A new study from the American Cancer Society reveals that younger people in the US are now contracting colorectal cancer.
Over the last ten years, incidences of colorectal cancer in people 50 and older has decreased, while young and middle-age adults contracting the disease are on the rise. The results, published online in CA, A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, show that few people below the age of 50 get colon cancer but the rate of incidence is climbing steadily.
In 2000 there were 5.9 new cases diagnosed per 100,000 people below the age of 50. In 2013, that number rose to 7.2. That’s a 22% increase for that demographic. In 2013, new cases diagnosed in people over the age of 50 was 119.3 per 100,000, and yet, the disease in that age group is on the decline. Between 2000 and 2013, the study notes a 32% DECREASE in the rate of colorectal cancer incidence for those age 50 and above. Why is this so?
As people continue to take more of a proactive approach to maintaining good health, those efforts have an impact. Taking the time to meditate and eat nutritious foods can have a huge effect, but also, those aged 50 and above are more likely to be screened for colon cancer because their demographic is still more prone to it. Adults aged 20-49 are less likely to have it, therefore, less likely to be offered a screening if their bathroom habits are not optimal.
Some of those early signs include an irregular bowel movement. Ideally, there should be one movement per day, fully formed. If you’re not using the bathroom once a day – that’s a call to action. Likewise, if you also feel gas and bloating, or any other variations, that’s another sign that you need to address this issue. It’s far easier to maintain a good, healthy bowel habit (once a day, fully formed, no gas or bloating) than to have to fix a much bigger problem down the line.
Leave a Reply