The rate of colorectal cancer has seen a significant increase among young people in recent years, which has attracted the attention of the medical community. However, alarming recent research shows that the upward trend in cancer rates among young people is not limited to colorectal cancer.
The study’s findings, which were published in JAMA Network Open, “build on data that have been previously presented and observations that have sparked public interest,” Dr. Jack Jacoub, MD, oncologist and chief medical officer of Memorial Care, told Yahoo Life Cancer Institute at Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, California.
The new study shows that early-onset cancer – defined as cancer in people under the age of 50 – increased from 2010 to 2019.
This study examined data from 17 National Cancer Institute Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results registries from January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2019. The research included 562,145 patients diagnosed with early-onset cancer.
Breast cancer, the most common malignancy
In 2019, the highest number of early-onset cancer cases was breast – 12,649 – but during the study period, gastrointestinal cancers had the fastest growth rates of early-onset cancer. Among gastrointestinal cancers, those with the fastest increasing incidence rates were in the appendix, followed by cancers of the bile duct and pancreas.
This research may be useful for developing surveillance strategies and funding priorities, the researchers wrote.
Doctors say the findings are important. “We are aware that there is an increase in colorectal cancer in younger people, under the age of 50, but we did not know that the cancers that are growing the fastest are more unusual cancers, such as appendix cancer and biliary cancers,” he told Yahoo Life Dr. Anton Bilchik, a surgical oncologist and chief of medicine at Saint John’s Cancer Institute in Santa Monica, California.
The reason for these trends is still unclear
As for the cause of this phenomenon, Dr. Christopher G. Cann, assistant professor at the Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia, explains that it is still under investigation. He states, “The cancer research community has not yet reached a solid understanding of the factors contributing to the increase in early-onset cancers.” According to him, current research suggests that early-onset gastrointestinal cancer may be influenced by changes in the species of bacteria in the gut microbiome, early exposure to antibiotics or the presence of carcinogens in the environment.
Also, expert Jacoub mentions that the obesity epidemic can be associated with this trend. He adds: “It is recognized that the American population is more affected by obesity than other populations in the world. Obesity can bring with it a number of problems, such as hormonal changes and inflammation, which can contribute to the increased incidence of cancer.”
Screening, an additional factor
Another factor that could be contributing to the increase in early-onset cancers is improved screening and increased awareness, according to Bilchik. He notes that more efforts are now being made to detect cancer in younger people than in the past. For example, breast cancer is now more commonly diagnosed in people under the age of 50. Also, the screening age for colorectal cancer has been lowered to 45 years. These measures contribute to the earlier identification of cancer cases.
In addition, there is a growing awareness that cancer can affect younger people as well, not just the elderly. However, there are other factors involved in this trend that we cannot yet precisely explain, according to Bilchik.
Dr. Cann stresses the importance of young adults and the medical community being aware of this alarming trend and encouraging young people to see a doctor if they have any concerns about their health. It is crucial to pay attention to this problem in order to detect and treat cancer in its early stages.
Jacoub stresses that it’s especially important for health care providers not to assume that younger patients are immune to cancer. He cautions that health care providers should not overlook the possibility of cancer just because symptoms appear at a younger age. It is essential that they include cancer in the list of possible causes for their patients’ health problems.
Jacoub believes that the results of the study are very relevant and represent a significant observation. He argues that this finding will become an important point in the education of future doctors, helping to improve the approach and diagnosis of cancer in younger patients.
2023-09-03 04:56:38
#Alarming #number #people #diagnosed #cancer #increasing #stiripesurse.ro
