Colon cancer rates are rising in these age groups – USA Today

Colon cancer rates are rising in these age groups  USA TodayThe rise of colon cancer among young people has been a mystery. Boston experts say they now have clues.  The Boston GlobeInsights into early-onset colorectal cancer from a single-nucleus RNA-seq atlas of colorectal cancer across the age continuum  NatureColorectal cancer in younger patients shows distinct cellular and gene-activity patterns  Medical XpressColon cancer looks different in young people — and often more aggressive, a new study found  Business Insider

It's not just younger groups with rising colorectal cancer rates − older age groups are seeing increases too, according to a new study, In the study, published on Oct. 27 in NEJM Evidence, researchers found rates are rising across all age groups up to 65 to 69. Incidence rates of colorectal cancer fell from 55.2 per 100,000 in 2000 to 36.7 in 2022, then rose to 38.3 in 2023, according to the study. “There are many unique challenges when you're diagnosed with cancer at a young age, so it's important that we shine a spotlight on that problem,” Caitlin Murphy, study author and professor of pediatrics and public health sciences at the University of Chicago, said in a news release.

“But in terms of understanding the root cause, I think our study shows that we can consider that whatever might be causing colorectal cancer in younger people is now also causing it to increase in older people as well.” The sharpest increase in incidence rates were among the 45 to 49 age group,