Posted on 11/13/2025 12:57:43 PM PST by Red Badger
Colorectal cancer is striking younger adults at alarming rates, driven by lifestyle and genetic factors.
Colorectal cancer (CRC) develops when abnormal cells grow uncontrollably in the colon or rectum, forming tumors that can eventually invade nearby tissues or spread to other parts of the body. It typically begins as small, benign growths called polyps, which can take years to become cancerous.
Globally, CRC ranks among the top three most common cancers, affecting millions of people each year.
Traditionally viewed as a condition that primarily affects older adults, it is now emerging in far younger populations, raising growing concern among doctors and researchers.
Surge in Early-Onset CRC
A study published in The Lancet Oncology has revealed a sharp rise in colorectal cancer diagnoses among adults under 50. Between 2013 and 2017, 27 of the 50 countries studied reported growing rates of early-onset cases. While North America and Europe continue to show high incidence, similar trends are now appearing across Eastern Europe, South-Central and Southeastern Asia, and South America.
Experts suggest that this shift may be linked to modern dietary habits, urbanization, and environmental influences. Preventive measures such as earlier screenings, improved nutrition, and greater public awareness are seen as essential to reversing the trend. Without these interventions, researchers warn that cases could continue to climb in the coming decades.
Life Factors Fuel Rise
Multiple studies suggest that modern eating patterns are contributing to the surge. High consumption of ultra-processed foods, red and processed meats, and sugary drinks has been linked to increased inflammation and a greater vulnerability to cancer.
For example, a study from Kazakhstan found that participants consumed nearly twice the World Cancer Research Fund’s recommended weekly limit of 500 grams of meat. Moreover, only 8.6% of respondents met the recommended intake for fish, highlighting potential nutritional deficiencies that may further elevate cancer risk.
Obesity, another key risk factor, has also been linked to CRC. Excess body fat promotes chronic inflammation and disrupts metabolic processes, yet the full extent of obesity’s role may be underestimated. A review of 18 studies found that many CRC patients experience unintentional weight loss before diagnosis, meaning traditional measures of obesity’s impact could be complex.
Genetics Drive Inherited Risk
Early-onset CRC is frequently associated with hereditary cancer syndromes, including Lynch syndrome and familial adenomatous polyposis, according to Dr. Alexei Tsukanov, head of the Laboratory of Genetics at the National Medical Research Center for Radiology. These conditions result from genetic mutations in tumor-suppressor genes, increasing the likelihood of developing CRC at a young age.
Early detection is critical, yet many individuals ignore warning signs such as persistent changes in bowel habits, blood in the stool, unexplained weight loss, and abdominal pain.
Dr. Tsukanov stated the importance of genetic testing for families with a history of CRC. “Identifying a hereditary mutation allows us to implement lifelong clinical monitoring and early intervention, significantly improving survival rates,” he explains.
Innovative technologies like BGI Genomics’ COLOTECT Stool DNA Methylation Test identifies CRC-related genetic markers (SDC2, ADHFE1, and PPP2R5C) through stool DNA analysis, offer a promising solution for non-invasive early detection.
Public Awareness for Early Screening
In many nations, including those in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, CRC screening programs are inconsistent. Some countries, such as Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Latvia, and Georgia, have structured national screening initiatives, while others rely on opportunistic testing, leading to gaps in early detection.
“To improve early detection, we must educate both healthcare providers and the public about the importance of screening,” says Jemma Arakelyan, an advisor at the Immune Oncology Research Institute and CEO of The Institute of Cancer and Crisis in Armenia.
References:
“Colorectal cancer incidence trends in younger versus older adults: an analysis of population-based cancer registry data”
by Hyuna Sung, Rebecca L Siegel, Mathieu Laversanne, Chenxi Jiang, Eileen Morgan, Mariam Zahwe, Yin Cao, Freddie Bray and Ahmedin Jemal, 11 December 2024, The Lancet Oncology.
DOI: 10.1016/S1470-2045(24)00600-4
“Self-reported consumption frequency of meat and fish products among young adults in Kazakhstan”
by Venera Akhmetova, Yuriy Balji, Yelena Kandalina, Ainara Iskineyeva, Akmaral Mukhamejanova, Akmaral Baspakova, Yassin Uzakov, Kuralay Issayeva and Galia Zamaratskaia, 1 July 2024, Nutrition and Health.
DOI: 10.1177/02601060221114230
Reference:
“Is the association of overweight and obesity with colorectal cancer underestimated? An umbrella review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses”
by Marko Mandic, Hengjing Li, Fatemeh Safizadeh, Tobias Niedermaier, Michael Hoffmeister and Hermann Brenner, 21 January 2023, European Journal of Epidemiology.
DOI: 10.1007/s10654-022-00954-6
Colorectal cancer is no longer just a disease of the elderly. It is increasingly affecting younger adults, largely due to unhealthy lifestyle choices. This growing trend calls for urgent action from governments, healthcare professionals, and individuals to promote awareness, improve diets, encourage healthier lifestyles, and expand access to early screenings. The time to act is now.
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Cheetos and Red Bull................
It’s going to get even worse because of the VAX.
You are not allowed to say that around these parts. Dogpoo Duke will arrive to discipline you shortly.
gee i wonder why cancered suddenly
My youngest son was diagnosed with cancerous polyps in 2019, at the age of 48.
The surgeon who operated on him, said he wished my son had come to him 10 years earlier because the polyps were so big, but that they weren’t testing people that young for colon cancer at the time. He was diagnosed with Stage 3 colon cancer. They did two resections by laparoscopic surgery, taking about 90% of his colon with the resections. They also took out about 70 of his lymph nodes. He’s lucky he didn’t need a colostomy. He went through 6 months of two different kinds of chemo, has had his regular scans since then, and been cancer-free.
92??!! Still walking around walking her dog after her late cancer surgery??!!
What was the list and dosages of her favorite junk foods?...asking for a friend...LOL!
One of my best friends from my youth died within 3 months of getting turbo leukemia.
World Cancer Research Fund’s recommended weekly limit of 500 grams of meat.
That’s a hair over 1 POUND per week! They won’t be happy til we’re all eating nothing but grasshoppers, kale and soy. Or soylent green.
The WuFu vaxx is brought us the turbo cancer phenomenon. Several, maybe many types.
6th post.
Agree. I’ve seen several fringe sources suggesting a link.
in africa? in asia? i don’t think so.
https://www.onedaymd.com/2025/07/ultimate-2025-guide-to-fenbendazole-and.html
Been using 12mg Ivermectin weekly since July 2020. Just ordered some fenbendazole. US healthcare is for treating diseases which will transfer your wealth to the healthcare industry, the insurance companies, the politicians and the pharmaceutical companies. With ACA it’s all about their benefit, not yours.
If you spend your life eating crap food…it is going to treat you badly.
How many of these people have had a raw vegetable in the last month? Or a couple of pieces of fruit every day?
How many of them eat Uber Eats and Pizza three times a week.
It would be interesting to see the correlation of that stuff.
Wow. Taking that much of the colon and NOT having a bag (even a temporary one) afterwards is rare. He is a lucky guy. My wife had 10 inches of colon taken and she was on the bag for six months.
Good luck to him. The whole digestive system can be nasty business.
I went through the bag thing for about 9 months. Diverticulitis was the culprit.
My ordeal could have probably ended sooner but my initial surgeon died about 3 months after the initial emergency surgery. It was national Doctor’s Day to boot.
His partner that I truly regret believing in his reputation as a great surgeon had an excuse every month why he couldn’t reverse me. I didn’t care for the touch of arrogance in his voice.
Long story short I got a line on another surgeon that saw me and got me scheduled and reversed just as he said it would go.
Three funny things about the surgeon who reversed me. One was he was the other surgeon on call when I went into the ER that Jan 4 morning. He was a lot older than the first surgeon and still alive and well last I heard. I met him while drying out from being caught up in a flash flood in 2015.
When I was getting processed out of recovery a couple days later, I was talking to one of the nurses and the name of the do nothing surgeon came up. She had heard similar stories about the guy.
I’m 89 and very healthy. Love living and want to stay on the planet as long as possible. Eat organic, no salt, no saturated fats, Weigh about 116, try to get some exercise every day. MD says I’ll live to e 100. Have to because no-one else would put up with my beloved b#tchy kitty, “Daisy”.
Just saw report of healthy 105-year-old vet visiting Trump in the White House. Felt that full-body tingle you get when you’re onto something. If he can do it, I can too.
Plus, I really don’t like junk food. My dad had several restaurants in various cities, taught me from a very young age: “Buy the best food you can afford and do as little as possible to it.” Had catfish in New Orleans two weeks ago, delish fish rolled in batter, salted to near-extinction. Pulled the fish out, delish. Thank goodness my local Safeway butcher has it in the case. Will saute in a little EVOO and enjoy with a little lemon.
Did I mention that I actually hate Pizza, beer and chocolate? True.
Thanks, I appreciate it. Like your wife, I can attest to digestive system problems myself. In 2010, I ended up in the emergency room with a perforated bowel from diverticulitis...and I had been following the diet religiously. Didn't matter. It happened. I had a temporary colostomy for three months, then the reversal. Had to go back for surgery on a hernia that had developed in the stoma area. They put in mesh, but I've got another big hernia in my lower abdomen. I've had it checked out. Surgeon said unless it bothers me, I won't need surgery, and at 78 years of age, that's the last thing I want. I also had to have my gall bladder removed in 2015. They couldn't do it with laparoscopic surgery because of scar tissue from all the other surgeries.
It’s the Starbucks and kale. What else could it be?
I was curious as to whether this could be partially attributed to minerals in the diet. I did find this article. Which states, “n conclusion, for the analysis of PLCO, a large US cohort, our findings not only corroborate the conclusions of previous studies on the protective role of minerals magnesium and zinc in the development of CRC, but also suggest new perspectives on the role of copper, iron, and selenium in CRC. Minerals factors play an important role in the prevention of disease, and an in-depth study of minerals can be beneficial in the prevention of cancer.”
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/nutrition/articles/10.3389/fnut.2024.1445369/full
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