Forget the outdated image of colon cancer as a disease for the elderly. The new, and increasingly common, faces of this disease are pictured here – from a new mother – to an EMT – an educator, former NJ assemblyman, and a runner – all under the age of 55.
March is Colon Cancer Awareness Month and Hackensack Meridian Health is sounding the alarm on this startling shift, tragically highlighted by the recent death of “Dawson’s Creek” actor James Van Der Beek, who passed away at 48 after a battle with the disease.
Roughly 1 in 5 new colorectal cancer diagnoses now occur in patients under 55, a rate that has nearly doubled since the mid-1990s. In fact, colorectal cancer is now the leading cause of cancer death for men under 50 and the second for women in the same age group.
So, why is colon cancer striking this new generation? While the exact cause is still being intensely researched, contributing factors are believed to be:
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Dietary & Lifestyle Changes: A shift towards Westernized diets, often higher in processed foods and lower in fiber, combined with more sedentary lifestyles.
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Environmental Exposures: The impact of various environmental factors on our gut health is an area of active investigation.
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Unknowns: Many young patients are otherwise healthy, leading to a perplexing medical mystery that researchers are working hard to solve.
Adding a new piece to this already complex puzzle, new research has found that levels of a protective protein called keratin 8 are significantly lower in colorectal cancer patients. Think of keratin 8 as essential scaffolding for the cells lining your colon. A new study published in Cellular and Molecular Gastroenterology and Hepatology found that when this “scaffolding” is reduced, colon cells can lose their structure, divide uncontrollably, and form tumors – mirroring what happens in colorectal cancer. This breakthrough may give experts a new target for potential treatments.
The rise in cases among younger adults has led to updated screening recommendations, with the American Cancer Society now advising that screening for individuals at average risk begin at age 45. However, a significant challenge remains in diagnosing the disease in its early stages in this younger demographic, as symptoms are often dismissed or misattributed to other conditions. This delay in diagnosis can lead to the cancer being more advanced and challenging to treat when it is finally discovered.
This Colon Cancer Awareness Month, Hackensack Meridian Health wants to help rewrite the narrative. It’s time to raise awareness that age is no longer a reliable shield against this disease.
“Typically, one in five colorectal cancer patients coming to our office is under age 50,” shares David B. Greenberg, MD, FACP, chief of hematology/oncology at Hackensack Meridian Jersey Shore University Medical Center. “Sometimes it’s two out of every five. What’s even more concerning, is that many of these young patients are otherwise healthy with no known obvious risk factors or genetic disposition.”
“For years, symptoms in younger adults might have been attributed to more benign conditions. Now, there is a much lower threshold to investigate for colorectal cancer. We encourage primary care physicians and specialists to consider colonoscopy for symptomatic patients under 45 more readily,” said Steven Lee-Kong, MD, chief of Colorectal Surgery, Hackensack University Medical Center.
“The good news is, more people are getting screened for colorectal cancer and are doing more to address lifestyle risks,” notes Michael Caparelli, MD, MS, FACS, colorectal surgeon at Hackensack Meridian Southern Ocean Medical Center. “Colonoscopy is an excellent screening tool that can identify and remove polyps before they develop into cancer. It is also beneficial in finding colorectal cancer at an earlier stage when it is easier to treat.”