For years, colorectal cancer was considered a disease that primarily affected older adults. That’s no longer the case.
Although most cases still occur after age 50, doctors across the country are diagnosing colorectal cancer more often in younger adults than ever before. In response to this trend, the recommended age for screening people at average risk dropped from 50 to 45.
Researchers continue to study exactly why rates are increasing among younger generations, but the trend is clear: age alone no longer tells the whole story. The good news is that awareness can make a difference.
Knowing the warning signs and taking them seriously may help lead to an earlier diagnosis, when treatment is often more effective. Here’s what our specialists at Greater Houston Radiation Oncology want our younger patients to know about colorectal cancer.
The honest answer is that we don’t fully know.
Some researchers believe the increase likely results from a combination of factors rather than one single cause. Diet, obesity, physical inactivity, changes in the gut microbiome, environmental influences, and genetics have all been investigated as possible contributors, but no single explanation accounts for every case.
What we do know is that younger adults are sometimes diagnosed later because colorectal cancer isn’t initially suspected. Some people may mistake their symptoms for hemorrhoids, irritable bowel syndrome, stress, or other common digestive conditions.
That’s why paying attention to persistent changes in your body is so important.
Many colorectal cancers develop silently at first, but symptoms can appear as the disease progresses.
Talk with your healthcare provider if you experience:
These symptoms don’t automatically mean you have colorectal cancer. Many have much more common causes. But if they persist or worsen, they deserve a medical evaluation rather than being brushed aside because you’re “too young.”
Having a close family member with colorectal cancer increases your own risk and may mean you need to begin screening earlier than age 45.
At the same time, many younger adults diagnosed with colorectal cancer have no family history of the disease. That’s another reason it’s important not to dismiss ongoing symptoms simply because no one else in your family has had colon or rectal cancer.
Treatment depends on several factors, including where the cancer is located, how advanced it is, and your overall health. Many people receive a combination of treatments, which may include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy.
Radiation therapy plays an especially important role in the treatment of many cancers. It may be given before surgery to shrink a tumor, after surgery to reduce the risk of recurrence, or alongside chemotherapy as part of a comprehensive treatment plan.
At Greater Houston Radiation Oncology, our board-certified radiation oncologists work closely with surgeons, medical oncologists, and other specialists to develop personalized treatment plans using advanced radiation techniques that precisely target cancer while protecting healthy tissue.
Being young doesn’t mean being immune.
You don’t need to panic every time you have an upset stomach or a day of constipation. But you also shouldn’t ignore symptoms that persist for weeks, repeatedly return, or simply don’t seem normal for you.
Equally important, don’t put off recommended screening because you feel healthy. Screening remains one of the most effective tools for finding colorectal cancer early — and even preventing it by identifying precancerous polyps before they become cancer.
If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with colorectal cancer, the experienced team at Greater Houston Radiation Oncology is here to help. We work alongside your other physicians to deliver compassionate, individualized radiation therapy using advanced technology and a multidisciplinary approach to achieve the best possible outcome.
Book online or call us in Houston or Huntsville, Texas, to schedule a colorectal exam.
