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Colorectal Cancer Is Rising Among Kids and Teens-and It's Not the Same Disease Adults Get
Gizmodo • • general
Key Points:
- Research shows colorectal cancer cases in children and teens are often aggressive and advanced at diagnosis, despite a typically small overall risk in this age group.
- A study of 84 patients aged 21 and younger found only 20% had a family history of colorectal cancer, with most cases presenting at stage III or IV and featuring aggressive tumors.
- The incidence of colorectal cancer is rising among people under 50, including children and adolescents, contrasting with declining rates in those over 65.
- Delayed diagnosis contributes to poor outcomes, with 37% of younger patients experiencing relapse and 45% dying by the study’s end, compared to a 63% five-year survival rate overall.
- Researchers urge doctors to consider colorectal cancer in young patients presenting unexplained symptoms such as abdominal pain, rectal bleeding, and changes in bowel habits to improve early detection.
