A growing body of evidence suggests that Americans born in 1990 face a significantly higher risk of developing gastrointestinal cancers compared to those born in 1950. According to a recent review published in the British Journal of Surgery, early-onset GI cancers have surged by nearly 15% in just one decade.
The main drivers behind this trend are obesity, Western diets, and fatty liver disease. Research shows that people with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher face nearly double the risk of developing early-onset colorectal cancer. A diet dominated by processed foods, sugar-sweetened drinks, and refined grains also significantly increases cancer risk.
Younger patients often face delayed diagnoses, more aggressive treatment, and greater “financial toxicity.” Diagnosis is frequently delayed due to the initial suspicion being less likely in younger individuals. As a result, the disease may have progressed to more advanced stages by the time it’s detected.
Furthermore, younger adults with gastrointestinal cancers encounter unique challenges that older patients typically avoid. These include more intensive treatments with marginal benefits and significant financial devastation. Research has shown that these patients experience “financial toxicity” at much higher rates than their older counterparts.
The increases in early-onset gastrointestinal cancer rates disproportionately affect Black, Hispanic, and indigenous populations. The disparity in survival rates is also stark, with Black patients having a 5-year survival rate of 57.6%, compared to 69.1% for non-Hispanic White patients.
To address this growing health issue, researchers are working to develop prevention strategies and screening methods tailored specifically for younger populations. However, the root causes driving these increases – including obesity rates and Western dietary patterns – must be addressed in order to see meaningful improvements in cancer rates.
Source: https://studyfinds.org/young-adults-higher-rectal-cancer-risk-than-previous-generation