There are many types of cancer. But colorectal cancer is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer. It is also the second common cause of death by cancer. It affected over 1.9 million people and caused almost 904,000 deaths in 2022 worldwide.
When you hear colon cancer, you might immediately think that it mainly affects older adults. For a long time, that was mostly true. But today, there’s a concerning shift happening. Colon cancer is having a surprising rise in younger adults, including Millennials and even Gen Z. For context, younger adults fall under the umbrella of 50 years old.
So, seeing it rise among young people is making many people ask, "What’s going on? Why is this happening? And more importantly, what can we do about it?" Find out all you need to know about colon cancer.
What is Colon Cancer?
Colon cancer is a type of cancer that starts in the digestive system, usually in the large intestine, which is the last part of the digestive tract. When it also involves the rectum, it's called colorectal cancer. Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in the U.S. when men and women are combined.
The most common form of colon cancer is called adenocarcinoma. Actually, around 95% of all colorectal cancers are this type. It usually starts off as these little clumps of cells called polyps. At first, polyps aren’t a big deal. They’re just always there. However, some of them can slowly turn into cancerous cells called adenomas over time.
This is why doctors often remove any polyps they spot during a regular colonoscopy, just to be safe and stop them from becoming something worse. But if a polyp gets missed or left alone too long, it can eventually turn into cancer. The tricky part about colon cancer is that it usually doesn’t show many signs early on, which makes catching it early super important.
What Are the Causes and Risk Factors of Colon Cancer?
So what raises your risk for colon cancer? The general consensus is that it is a mix of genetics and your environment. If someone in your family had colon cancer or certain genetic syndromes like inflammatory bowel disease and lynch syndrome, you’re at higher risk. However, these are things you can't really control.
On the other hand, lifestyle factors play a much bigger role in causing colon cancer. These are the things you can control, like:
• Obesity
• Smoking
• Heavy alcohol use
• Eating lots of red or processed meat
• Not getting enough exercise.
Age used to be a big risk factor, too, but now we’re seeing more young adults affected. A recent study found that low vitamin D levels might be making things worse, and many young people today aren’t getting enough vitamin D.
What Is Causing the Alarming Rise of Colon Cancer in Young Adults?
Colon cancer rates in people under 50 have been steadily climbing for the last couple of decades. The numbers are honestly pretty shocking. Millennials and even Gen Z are now facing a risk that their parents and grandparents didn't at their age. Young-onset colorectal Cancer now makes up about 1 in 5 new diagnoses.
Why is this happening?
Research shows that it could be a mix of lifestyle factors like eating more processed foods, drinking alcohol, and smoking. Higher obesity rates and even changes in gut bacteria are on the list of things that are affecting younger people. But even people who do not do all of that can still be affected by their work lives, like with sedentary jobs.
To put this into perspective, screening guidelines are shifting, too. In fact, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force now recommends starting routine colon cancer screening at age 45 instead of 50. This shows that the age demographic for colon cancer is shifting, and fast.
Symptoms and Signs of Colon Cancer
One of the scariest parts about colon cancer is that it often doesn’t scream out symptoms at first, and when it does, they can be easy to brush off. Especially for younger people who think, "Oh, it's probably just stress or bad takeout."
Not to mention, only about 70% of people are up to date on their colonoscopy. This is another reason why it is not caught on time. Still, here are some warning signs to watch out for:
• Blood in your poop (or even just very dark stool)
• Continuous stomach pain
• Unexplained fatigue due to blood loss in the intestines
• Cramps and bloating
• Unexpected weight loss
• Changes in bathroom habits, like new constipation or diarrhea.
• Feeling like you still have to use the bathroom even after just going
Too many Gen Z and Millennials ignore these signs or get misdiagnosed because nobody expects colon cancer in a 30-year-old. Some of these early warning signs can be mistaken for other conditions such as food allergies or irritable bowel syndrome. If you are experiencing any stomach issues or something feels off, trust your gut and get it checked out.
Diagnosis and Treatment Options for Colon Cancer
The gold standard for colon cancer screening is still the colonoscopy. It is a test that allows doctors to look directly inside your colon and remove polyps if they find any. There’s also the Fecal Immunochemical Test (FIT), that checks for hidden blood in the stool.
If a cancer is found, treatment starts immediately. However, it depends on how advanced it is. Common treatment options include:
• Surgery: Removing the cancerous part of the colon.
• Chemotherapy: Using drugs to kill cancer cells such as Capecitabine and Oxaliplatin.
• Radiation therapy: Often used for cancer that affects the rectum too
• Immunotherapy: Helping your immune system recognize and fight cancer.
Treatment is never easy but the research on improving the healing process is better. There are new clinical trials and experimental treatments being explored, including therapies that specifically target gut health.
Prevention and Lifestyle Changes That Reduce Your Risk
The good news is that here’s a lot you can do to lower your risk of colon cancer. First things first, schedule that colonoscopy and see if you have any polyps right now.
If you are in the clear, you can maintain that with a few lifestyle changes. Here are some
• Eat a fiber-rich diet: Load up on fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
• Stay active: Even a brisk walk every day makes a difference.
• Limit red and processed meats: Think bacon, hot dogs, and sausage.
• Stay hydrated: Water helps your digestive system stay healthy.
• Know your family history: If colon cancer runs in your family, talk to your doctor early about screening.
The Gut Connection with Microbiome & Colon Cancer
Before we sign off, you should know how important your gut is to your health. Your gut is filled with trillions of bacteria and they are known as the gut microbiota. When these bacteria are balanced, they help with digestion and keep inflammation in check.
However, when things get out of balance, like from a poor diet or stress, it can lead to chronic inflammation and even contribute to cancer growth. The reduction of healthy bacteria in your gut does more harm than good.
But there is a good fix for an unbalanced microbiome. Promising research shows that foods like yogurt might lower your risk of bowel cancer. Yogurts contain probiotics that help increase good bacteria levels in the gut. Another study suggests that walnuts might help reduce colon inflammation. When the gut is healthy, your risk of developing colon cancer reduces drastically.
Several supplements may support gut health and help lower the risk of colon cancer by reducing inflammation, promoting a balanced gut microbiome, and protecting the colon lining. Key options include probiotics and prebiotics for nurturing healthy gut bacteria, vitamin D and calcium for regulating cell growth and protecting the colon, and omega-3 fatty acids for their anti-inflammatory effects. Curcumin (from turmeric) has shown potential in suppressing cancer cell growth, while fiber supplements help maintain regular bowel movements and remove waste efficiently.
Conclusion
The rise of colon cancer among young adults is scary, but it’s also key to know this information. And with it, you find that you have so much control over your health. Now, you know the signs and can start making smart lifestyle choices. You should also make an intentional effort to stay on top of screenings.
With things like taking supplements, eating more yogurt, staying active, or just paying closer attention to your gut, small changes can make a big difference. Colon cancer doesn't have to be a silent threat, we can fight back with awareness, action, and a little help from science.
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