Health
Colorectal cancer is now leading cause of death among young adults with cancer: new report
Colorectal cancer is now among the leading causes of cancer deaths for young adults, according to a new report from the American Cancer Society (ACS).
Each year, the ACS compiles data on the numbers of new cancer cases and deaths in the U.S., which are published in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians.
Colorectal cancer has steadily grown among adults younger than 50, the report noted.
CANCER CAUSES: THESE 10 HIDDEN CARCINOGENS CAN RAISE THE RISK, ACCORDING TO AN ONCOLOGY EXPERT
In the late 1990s, it was the fourth-leading cause of cancer death in that age group.
As of 2024, it ranks as the leading cause of cancer deaths in men and the second leading cause in women.
Colorectal cancer is now among the leading causes of cancer deaths for young adults, according to a report from the American Cancer Society (ACS). (iStock)
Dr. Aparna Parikh, medical director of the Center for Young Adult Colorectal Cancer at the Mass General Cancer Center, who is not affiliated with the ACS, said she is “alarmed but not surprised” by the rising colorectal rates among young people — and particularly by the fact that colon cancer is now the leading cause of cancer death for men under 50.
The colorectal cancer research community has been working to determine why rates are rising among young adults, Parikh said.
PATIENTS WITH METASTATIC COLORECTAL CANCER COULD FIND HOPE IN NEW FDA-APPROVED TREATMENT
“We don’t entirely understand why yet, but it seems to be an interplay of a person’s risk factors, overall makeup and early exposures,” she told Fox News Digital in an email.
“The exposures include dietary exposures, environmental exposures and possible antibiotic exposures, as well as lifestyle factors in the right host,” Parikh added.
“Screening at [age] 45 is [the] standard of care, and the gold standard is colonoscopy.”
There are many people who have healthy lifestyle habits and no apparent risk factors who go on to develop colorectal cancer, the doctor noted — “and then there are plenty of patients who have less than ideal habits.”
She said, “It really is an interplay between the right person and the right exposures.”
As of 2024, colorectal cancer ranks as the leading cause of cancer deaths in men. (iStock)
Some primary risk factors include family history, obesity, smoking, heavy alcohol, a diet high in red and processed meats, inflammatory bowel disease and a personal history or family history of polyps, according to Parikh.
To reduce cases in younger patients, the doctor stressed the importance of raising public awareness of the disease around recognizing symptoms early.
CANCER RISK COULD INCREASE WITH CONSUMPTION OF CERTAIN FOODS AND DRINKS, STUDY FINDS
She also recommended certain healthy lifestyle habits, including avoiding or limiting red meat, not smoking, exercising regularly and adopting a more Mediterranean-based diet.
Early screening is also important, Parikh noted.
“Screening at [age] 45 is [the] standard of care, and the gold standard is colonoscopy — but there are also stool-based tests that are appropriate,” she said.
“If you are having any symptoms like weight loss, blood in stool, anemia or change in bowel habits, you should go straight to colonoscopy.”
Some primary risk factors for colorectal cancer include family history, obesity, smoking, heavy alcohol, a diet high in red and processed meats, inflammatory bowel disease and a personal history or family history of polyps, according to a cancer doctor. (iStock)
Overall, the ACS expects that over 2 million new cancer cases and 611,720 cancer deaths will occur in the U.S. in 2024.
Although overall cancer mortality has been dropping — likely as a result of earlier detection, improved treatments and healthy lifestyle behaviors — the report stated that several types of cancers have increased in prevalence.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER
In addition to colorectal cancer, cervical cancer also rose 1% to 2% annually among adults between 30 and 44 years of age.
Among all age groups, cancer rates rose 0.6% to 1% annually for breast, pancreas and uterine corpus cancers, and 2% to 3% annually for prostate, liver (female), kidney and human papillomavirus-associated oral cancers and for melanoma, the report stated.
The data in the ACS report was drawn from central cancer registries and mortality data collected by the National Center for Health Statistics.
Fox News Digital reached out to the ACS for additional comment.
For more Health articles, visit foxnews.com/health
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
Top stories
→ 8 common food preservatives linked to high blood pressure and heart disease
→ Study suggests latest COVID vaccine may have unexpected health benefit
→ Switching from cigarettes to vapes linked to higher risk of major eye diseases
Common food preservatives may contribute to higher risks of high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease, according to a large French study. (iStock)
Health challenges
→ Former reality star opens up about new diagnosis after years-long health ordeal
→ Popular mommy blogger dies at 48 two years after devastating cancer diagnosis
CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES
Easy improvements
→ Want to age better? Researchers say 4-minute routine may help prevent dangerous falls
→ One question may reveal whether your body is getting the rest it needs
Feeling older than your current age could be a sign that you’re not getting enough quality sleep, according to new research. (iStock)
Conversation starters
→ Dad jokes may be good for your brain in one surprising way, experts say
→ Measles-infected traveler may have exposed passengers at LAX and nearby hotel
→ No sex for 10 weeks? Championship team’s playoff strategy raises eyebrows
Health
Switching from cigarettes to vapes linked to higher risk of major eye diseases, large study finds
US cigarette smoking drops to record low, vaping and nicotine pouch use surges
Fox News medical analyst Dr. Marc Siegel discusses a New England Journal of Medicine study reporting US adult cigarette smoking rates dropped to a record low of 9.9% in 2024. Siegel warns about the addictive nature of vaping and nicotine pouches, which contain high levels of nicotine. He expresses concern over potential GI tract and heart issues, stressing social media’s role in promoting these products to younger generations.
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
Switching from cigarettes to electronic vapes is often seen as a healthier move, but a massive nationwide study published in the American Journal of Ophthalmology suggests that smokeless alternatives could increase the risk of serious eye diseases compared to quitting nicotine altogether.
Researchers from the Korea University College of Medicine in Seoul, South Korea, analyzed health data from a group of 179,273 adults through the Korean National Health Insurance Service, according to a press release.
All participants had smoked traditional cigarettes between 2011 and 2012 and then quit smoking by 2018 or 2019, they reported.
SINGLE WORKOUT CUTS CRAVINGS, OFFERING NEW HOPE FOR SMOKERS TRYING TO QUIT
To ensure a fair comparison, the researchers paired up participants who shared similar backgrounds, including their age, gender, medical history, existing health conditions and general lifestyle habits.
Switching from cigarettes to electronic vapes is often seen as a healthier move, but a large study suggests it could pose a risk to eye health. (iStock)
This process created a balanced group of 32,316 matched participants, who were divided into two categories: complete quitters who stopped using all nicotine products and those who transitioned to smokeless nicotine products, such as vapes.
The researchers followed the participants for an average of 4.6 years to determine whether they developed eye conditions, including cataracts, glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and focus-related eyesight disorders.
5 WAYS TO PRESERVE YOUR VISION AS YOU AGE, ACCORDING TO AN OPHTHALMOLOGIST
Over the tracking period, the group experienced a total of 6,328 major eye disease events. People who quit nicotine entirely had the lowest disease rate in the study, at 41.1 cases per 1,000 person-years (a measure that accounts for both the number of people in the study and how long they were followed).
In comparison, that rate rose to 44 cases for individuals who had switched over to smokeless alternatives like vapes.
The people included in the study were divided into two main categories: complete quitters who stopped using all nicotine products, and switchers who transitioned to smokeless tobacco or nicotine products, like vapes. (iStock)
Ultimately, the data showed that switching to alternative nicotine products carried a steady 7% increased risk of serious eye diseases compared to quitting nicotine completely.
FOOD CHOICES THAT CAN BOOST YOUR VISION AND PROTECT AGAINST EYE DISEASE
Most notably, those who switched faced a 24% higher risk of developing diabetic retinopathy, a condition that damages the blood vessels in the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER
Additionally, those who ditched cigarettes for vapes had a 7% higher risk of developing refractive and accommodation disorders, which affect the eye’s ability to focus clearly.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES
“These findings challenge the assumption that substituting noncombustible nicotine or tobacco products for conventional cigarettes is visually harmless,” the researchers noted.
“These findings challenge the assumption that substituting noncombustible nicotine or tobacco products for conventional cigarettes is visually harmless,” the researchers noted. (iStock)
The authors did point out a few limitations of the research. Because this was a study looking back at health insurance data, it cannot definitively prove that vaping directly causes eye damage.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
Additionally, the study relied on people filling out questionnaires about their own smoking and vaping habits, which can sometimes lead to underreporting or simple memory errors.
TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ
Still, the researchers concluded the findings suggest that replacing cigarettes with alternative nicotine products may not eliminate the risk of certain eye diseases.
Use left and right arrow keys to navigate between menu items.
Use escape to exit the menu.
Sign Up
Create a free account to access exclusive content, play games, solve puzzles, test your pop-culture knowledge and receive special offers.
Already have an account? Login
-
Indiana2 minutes agoDriver airlifted after NW Indiana police chase ends with crash into tree
-
Iowa7 minutes agoVote: Class 1A Iowa High School Softball Midseason Player Of The Year
-
Kansas14 minutes agoSalina Stars Unite for Final High School Stage at Kansas Shrine Bowl
-
Kentucky17 minutes agoBeechwood’s Tyler Fryman commits to the Kentucky Wildcats
-
Louisiana22 minutes agoSouthern football’s Marshall Faulk visits Central Louisiana
-
Maine29 minutes agoGov. Mills to decide on Maine school choice tax credit program
-
Maryland32 minutes agoMaryland Lottery Mega Millions, Pick 3 results for June 26, 2026
-
Michigan37 minutes ago
Michigan Lottery Daily 3, Daily 4 results for June 26, 2026
