Scientists trying to understanding the mysterious explosion of colon cancers in young people say they’ve identified the groups most at risk.
Living in a low income neighborhood and not having health insurance were linked to an increased risk of dying from the disease before age 50.
This is likely due to these groups not getting tested and poor access to healthcare, allowing the cancer to spread before it’s caught.
The study, by the University of California, followed more than 20,000 ‘early-onset’ US colorectal patients aged 18 to 49 from various ethnic groups for more than four years following their diagnosis.
They found the death rate was 34 percent higher among native Hawaiians and Pacific islanders compared to their peers.
Black individuals were at a 18 percent higher risk and Hispanics were at a 15 percent increased risk.
The researchers said that socioeconomic factors were driving the disparity, because these minorities are more likely to live in high poverty neighborhoods, with limited access to financial, educational, and other resources.
They noted that ‘a growing body of evidence’ also shows how Hispanic individuals have ‘rapidly rising’ early onset colon cancer rates, ‘suggesting that more needs to be done to address this burden in this large ethnic group in the US.’
They also noticed differences as to where the tumors were found, and among Asian American, Hispanic, non-Hispanic American Indian or Alaska Native, and non-Hispanic white individuals, most tumors were in the rectum.
Meanwhile, the largest proportion of cancers in non-Hispanic black individuals were found in the first and middle parts of the colon (proximal) and in the final section of the colon (distal) in Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander individuals.
The location of tumors may lead to different symptoms.
For example, masses in the proximal colon can cause weight loss and microcytic anemia, while tumors in the distal colon can trigger rectal bleeding and changes in bowel habits.
The researchers are therefore urging people from different groups to be aware of all symptoms colon cancer can cause and which they could be most susceptible to.
The data comes amid an explosion in cancers in young people around the world and colon cancer is among the fastest rising.
Diagnoses are expected to rise by 90 percent in people 20 to 34 years old from 2010 to 2030.
The five-year survival rate for colon cancer is 64 percent, but that drops to 14 percent if the cancer has spread, which commonly occurs in early-onset cases because symptoms are often not present or are misdiagnosed until the cancer has spread throughout the body.
Symptoms include changes in bathroom habits, blood in stool, weakness, fatigue, nausea, loss of appetite, a lump in the abdomen or rectum, diarrhea, abdominal cramping, constipation and vomiting
Dr Pashtoon Kasi, medical director of gastrointestinal medical oncology at City of Hope Orange County in California, previously told DailyMail.com that he has seen a rapid rise in the number of under 50s with colon cancer during his career.
He believes sedentary lifestyles and consumption of ultra-processed foods and alcohol may create conditions that influence cancer development at an earlier stage.
Additionally, researchers are beginning to investigate how antibiotic exposure in childhood is associated with development of colorectal cancer, as well as examining how the body’s gut microbiome plays a role.
In a bid to curb rising cancer rates among younger people, Dr Kasi said ‘education is vital.’
He added: ‘Younger adults need to understand the symptoms and prioritize screening, which helps detect cancers at their earliest, most treatable stages.
‘Community physicians must also stay informed about these trends and proactively order the necessary tests or workup if symptoms persist.
‘Lifestyle changes are equally important. Regular exercise, a healthy diet, reducing alcohol consumption, not smoking, and avoiding ultra-processed foods are all tangible essential steps till we get a better understanding of what else is contributing.
‘In addition, continued investment in cancer research is crucial.’
The recent study by the University of California, followed 22,834 ‘early-onset’ US colorectal patients aged 18 to 49 from various ethnic groups.
All of the cases were pulled from the population-based California Cancer Registry (CCR).
The participants were diagnosed with colon cancer between 2000 and 2019 and a check in on their condition was conducted at an average of 4.2 years later.
A data analysis was then conducted between July 1, 2021, and September 30, 2024.
Along with race and ethnicity-based differences in death rates among patients with early onset colon cancer, they looked at how economic status, and social and neighborhood characteristics played a role in their health.
The researchers said their findings will help ‘tailor’ clinical and public health interventions in a more targeted way.
They conclude: ‘These findings provide novel and important data underscoring the role of social determinants of health in early onset colon cancer-related mortality and the need to address barriers to care to ensure greater equity in survival for a cancer that affects individuals whose lives are cut short in their prime.’
