Young cancer increases confirmed

Colorectal Cancer Incidence in US Adults After Recommendations for Earlier Screening

After a stable 15-year trend, local-stage CRC incidence increased steeply in adults aged 45 to 49 years during 2019-2022,

including a 50% relative increase between 2021 and 2022.

Sudden uptick in incidence among adults aged 45 to 49 years in 2021,

the increase accelerated in 2022

Individuals aged 45 to 49 years

(Local stage tumours, colorectal cancers)

2004-2019

An increase of 1.1% annually

2019-2022

Accelerated to 12.0% annually

In 2019

9.4 per 100 000

In 2021

11.7 per 100 000 in 2021 (25% relative increase)

In 2022

17.5 per 100 000 (a 50% increase relative to 2021)

Colorectal cancer is common and deadly

152,810 new cases of colorectal cancer in 2024.

Of these, 106,590 colon cancer, and 46,220 rectal cancer.

CRC is the second leading cause of all cancer-related deaths in the U.S.

Estimated 53,010 deaths in 2024

Estimated 52,550 deaths in 2023

Rising CRC cases among younger people

Mortality rate in young people is also increasing

Now leading cause of cancer death in men under 50,

second leading cause in women under 50

Young people are often diagnosed with more advanced cancers due to delays in detection.

JAMA

… likely reflects diagnosis of prevalent asymptomatic cancer through first-time screening due to recommendations for adults to begin screening at age 45 years instead of 50 years.

The sudden uptick in incidence among adults aged 45 to 49 years in 2021 may reflect a rebound of missed diagnoses in 2020 because of pandemic-related disruptions.

However, the increase was unique to early-stage disease in the newly eligible screening age group and accelerated in 2022, and USPSTF recommendations did not change until 2021.

Although additional data years are needed for confirmation, the recent uptick in localized CRC after recommendations to initiate screening in adults aged 45 to 49 years is promising and may reflect earlier detection through screening initiation.

JAMA Data obtained

From 21 registries

US national cancer institute

Cases diagnosed from 2004 to 2022

Among adults aged 20 to 54 years

N = 219, 373 cancer cases

Colorectal cancer screening age

Down to 50 years in UK (2024 - 2025)

Down to 45 years in US (2018 - 2021)

Faecal immunochemical test for blood (FOB)

Interesting vitamin D study

14,676 CRC cases, 808,130 subjects, 17 countries.

25% lower risk was reported comparing the highest vs. the lowest dietary vitamin D consumption

The meta-analysis demonstrates that high dietary vitamin D is associated to CRC prevention.

Signs of CRC

RP blood or blood on / faeces

Change in normal bowel habit

Feeling of incomplete emptying or needing to strain after passing

Pain in back passage or abdomen

Anaemia

Weight loss

Masses

Risk factors

Diet

Eating too much processed meat and red meat

(13% of cases in UK are linked to eating processed meats)

All sorts of fibre are good

Overweight / obese

(11% linked in the UK)

Physical activity

Smoking tobacco

(7% linked in the in the UK)

Alcohol

(6% linked in the UK)

Age

Family history

Some specific traits such as Lynch syndrome, hereditary non polyposis colon cancer (HNPCC).

Cancer Research UK

Can’t find anything about mRNA vaccine or vitamin D