Colon cancer cases are increasing rapidly in people under the age of 50. Experts emphasize the importance of early diagnosis and warn about the inadequacy of screening.
Colon cancer, which caused the death of actor James Van Der Beek at the age of 48, is increasing in people under 50. Experts point out late diagnosis and lack of screening.
Cases of bowel cancer, also called colorectal cancer, are increasing in people under the age of 50. Most recently, the death of American actor James Van Der Beek from colon cancer at the age of 48 on February 11 was brought to the agenda. Some artists under the age of 50 had previously lost their lives to colon cancer. Prof from Queen’s University Belfast. Helen Coleman also announced that colorectal cancer cases in people under 50 have increased by a third since the 1990s.
‘IT IS NOT A DISEASE OF OLDER AGES ANYMORE’
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Speaking to Didem Seymen from Milliyet, General Surgery Specialist Prof. Dr. Cem Terzi stated that colon cancer can no longer be seen only as a disease of old age and said: “While in 1995 one in every 10 patients was under the age of 55, today nearly a fifth of patients diagnosed are in this age group. This is an alarming increase.” Emphasizing that cancer statistics in Türkiye are not healthy enough, Terzi said that for this reason, most data are based on Western studies.
THE MOST IMPORTANT PROBLEM IS DIAGNOSIS DELAY
Colorectal cancer usually develops from precursor lesions called polyps and progresses slowly. When caught at an early stage, treatment success is over 90 percent. In Türkiye, fecal occult blood test is recommended every two years and colonoscopy every 10 years for individuals between the ages of 50 and 70. Screening services are offered free of charge through family physicians and KETEMs. However, Prof. Dr. According to Cem Terzi, access in practice is very limited and the programs do not include young people. In the USA, the screening starting age has been reduced from 50 to 45 as of 2021. According to experts, one of the most important problems in young people is the delay in diagnosis.
THE MOST COMMON SYMPTOMS ARE:
- Anal bleeding
- Unexplained iron deficiency and anemia
- Stomach ache
- unexplained weight loss
- Change in defecation habit and thinning of stool diameter
While anal bleeding is seen in 46 percent of young cases, this rate is 26 percent in those over 50 years of age.
‘CANCER IS INCREASING BECAUSE THE ENVIRONMENT IS BEING POLLUTED’
One third of colorectal cancers have a family history. However, in 70 percent of cases, there is no family history of cancer. this too “It doesn’t happen in my family, it won’t happen to me” It shows that this idea is misleading. Although factors such as obesity, red and processed meat consumption, and physical inactivity increase the risk, experts state that it is insufficient to explain the increase solely by lifestyle. Prof. Dr. Cem Terzi, “Cancer is increasing because the environment is getting polluted. Air, water and soil are being polluted. Pesticides, industrial waste, asbestos and fossil fuels pose serious risks.” he said.
LATE SCREENING PROGRAM
Prof. Dr. Cem Terzi stated that although the treatments applied to young patients are more aggressive, survival rates are similar to the elderly. Terzi emphasized that this is because cancer has a more aggressive biology in young people. Tailor “Cancer is the common product of environmental policies, occupational safety, food regime, urbanization and the health system. But the system puts the responsibility on the individual. However, it is not the patient who is late, but the screening program who is late.” he said. Experts say that early diagnosis saves lives in colorectal cancer and emphasize that further examination should be carried out in cases of anal bleeding and unexplained anemia.
