There is new, shocking evidence that suggests, that ” while the rates of colorectal cancer are dropping overall, they are rising among Gen Xers and millennials (azhha).”
More than a decade ago, scientists noticed an odd quirk in the data: While overall rates of colorectal cancer have been falling dramatically since the mid-1980s, there’s been a steady uptick of this disease among people younger than 50.
The numbers are small. Cancer incidence is creeping up by 1 or 2 cases per 100,000 people under 50. By way of comparison, the disease rate among older Americans has plummeted by more than 100 cases per 100,000 people. (npr.org)
Scientists are still unsure of what could be the cause of colon cancer happening more and more among younger people. Some suggest that the higher numbers of obesity, lack of exercise and poor diet could be the root cause (npr.org). However, solid evidence of why this rise is occurring is still not evident.
The honest truth is nobody knows 100 percent why there is an increase,” said Dr. Mohamed E. Salem, an assistant professor at Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center at Georgetown University. He said that he is older than about 60 percent of his patients — and he is 42. It’s hard to blame it on obesity alone. We suspect there is also something else going on.(nytimes.com)
Doctors continue to recommend yearly check-ups and if you have any pain to not hesitate to make an appointment with the Wickenburg Community Hospital.