In Australia and around the world, colorectal cancer cases are on the rise for young adults. It’s one reason why colorectal surgeons and researchers now say you should now have your annual colonoscopy in Melbourne from the age of 45, not 50. Recently, a study by a team of researchers from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri, aimed to identify early warning signs and symptoms of colorectal cancer. Here’s what they found, and what a colorectal surgeon in Melbourne has to say.
Colon cancer is now a young person’s cancer
The incidence of colorectal cancer among younger patients has become a cause for concern, as revealed in a March 2023 report by the American Cancer Society. Shockingly, one in every five diagnosed cases of colorectal cancer belongs to the young onset category. It is estimated that in 2023 alone, approximately 153,020 Americans will receive a colorectal cancer diagnosis. And this isn’t an American issue – each year, 1,680 Australians under 50 are diagnosed with this cancer, which is 10.7% of all cases. And it’s on the increase.
With that in mind, let’s look at what this new study has found.
Key findings
The study, published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, involved the analysis of 5,075 patients diagnosed with early onset colorectal cancer. The study identified four consistent symptoms among almost half of the participants:
- Abdominal pain
- Rectal bleeding
- Diarrhoea
- Iron deficiency anaemia
The researchers discovered that the presence of a single symptom almost doubled the risk, while three or more symptoms increased the risk by over 6.5 times.
Should you have your colonoscopy in Melbourne at an earlier age?
One of the most significant findings of the study was that nearly half of the participants experienced at least one of the identified symptoms up to two years before their colorectal cancer diagnosis.
A leading colorectal surgeon in Melbourne says this is due to several reasons – firstly, colorectal cancer symptoms are quite subtle in nature and easily passed off as symptoms of different, less severe conditions, so people don’t seek medical attention as quickly as they need to. Secondly, because colorectal cancer is thought of as an older person’s health issue, it’s more likely that it won’t occur to younger people – or their health practitioners – that these symptoms could be cancer.
Given the alarming increase in cases among younger adults and the current recommended screening age for colonoscopies, identifying prevalent symptoms – and being aware of them from a young age – could lead to faster diagnosis for early onset patients.
This is exceptionally important as colorectal cancer is one of the most treatable cancers if it is detected early on.
Presently, the recommended age for colonoscopy screening is 45, which poses an additional barrier to detecting colorectal cancer in patients exhibiting symptoms consistent with the disease. So, recommending a younger age to start screening with your colorectal surgeon in Melbourne is likely key to raising awareness with the public, colorectal surgeons, and health practitioners alike.
Symptoms? Family history of bowel cancer? Book a colonoscopy in Melbourne
By understanding the key symptoms associated with colorectal cancer, researchers and colorectal surgeons aim to empower individuals under the age of 50 to consider the possibility of colorectal cancer, assess their family history, and discuss their symptoms with healthcare providers promptly.
If you have any of these symptoms and/or a family history of bowel cancer, it is critical to book a colonoscopy in Melbourne or at least see a colorectal surgeon in Melbourne as soon as you can – no matter your age. Today, colorectal surgeons perform thousands of these screening procedures each year and work hard to make sure they are as comfortable, pain-free, and quick as possible. And it could save your life!
