Gastrointestinal cancers are rising at an alarming rate in young adults, a new study warns.

While colon cancer is the most common early-onset gastrointestinal cancer, researchers say more people under 50 are being diagnosed with pancreatic, esophageal and stomach cancers, as well as rarer diseases such as cancer of the appendix, biliary cancer, and neuroendocrine tumors.

A team at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute conducted a data review and found early-onset gastrointestinal cancers increased by nearly 15% between 2010 and 2019.

While the case count was highest in people 40 to 49, the rise in rates was steeper in younger age groups.

For example, people born in 1990 were twice as likely to develop colon cancer and four times as likely to develop rectal cancer compared to those born in 1950.

The big question is why and the answer is not clear, but common risk factors were found across all types of gastrointestinal cancer.

The lead co-author says, “Lifestyle factors such as obesity, a Western-pattern diet including a lot of processed foods, and a sedentary lifestyle are likely contributing to a lot of early-onset cases.”

Also making the list: smoking, alcohol use and conditions like fatty liver disease and acid reflux.

The results showed most early-onset gastrointestinal cancers were not associated with an inherited genetic mutation but instead occurred from a mutation likely triggered by an environmental factor.

The authors say these findings highlight the importance of knowing your family history and getting screened for colon cancer starting at age 45.

Screening for other gastrointestinal cancers is generally not available, so knowing potential symptoms is key – including blood in the stool, persistent acid reflux, heartburn and unexplained stomach or back pain.

Source: British Journal of Surgery

Author Affiliations: Dana-Faber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School

‘Alarming Rise’ in Gastrointestinal Cancers in Young Adults

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