Marked Increase in Colorectal Cancer in Teenagers and Younger Adults

MedicalResearch.com Interview with:

Anas Raed,MD Section of General Internal Medicine Augusta University

Dr. Raed

Anas Raed, MD
Section of General Internal Medicine
Augusta University

MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?

Response: Colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence and mortality rates have been decreasing in the US since mid 1980s, however, recent evidence shows that incidence and mortality rates of CRC in patients younger than 50 years have been increasing significantly.

In spite of the increasing trend of colorectal cancer, routine screening of this population has not been addressed due to lack of evidence and cost-effectiveness. Administering screening colonoscopy for all individuals younger than 50 years might not be feasible and, therefore routine screening colonoscopy for specific age groups might reduce the disparity of the incidence in this disease.

MedicalResearch.com: What are the main findings?

ResponseOur findings portray an alarming increase in the CRC incidence in the teenagers (15-19 years) and young adults (45-49 years), who fall outside of colorectal cancer screening recommendations.

MedicalResearch.com: What should readers take away from your report?

  1. Primary care physicians need to consider hereditary colorectal cancer syndromes in the age group 15-19 years.
  2. Screening programs should be encouraged for Caucasians at age 45 years, particularly in males

MedicalResearch.com: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this study?

Response: Further studies are needed to understand this shifting demographics of CRC and effective methods for colorectal cancer screening to reduce these disparities.

Citation: DDW 2018 abstract

5-YEAR INTERVAL COLORECTAL CANCER INCIDENCE TRENDS UNDER AGE 50. RESULTS OF POPULATION-BASED STUDY

Anas Raed,Muhammed Sherid,Jigar Bhagatwala, Amo lSharma, Humberto Sifuentes, SubbaramiahSridhar

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0016-5085(18)32092-4

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Last Updated on June 6, 2018 by Marie Benz MD FAAD