New Delhi– Gastrointestinal (GI) cancers are increasing at alarming rates among adults under 50 worldwide, according to two newly published studies.
The first study, published in JAMA, revealed that the surge in cancer cases extends beyond colorectal cancer and includes rising incidences of gastric, esophageal, and pancreatic cancers.
“Colorectal cancer is the most common early-onset GI cancer worldwide, accounting for more than half of the cases, but it is not the only GI cancer that is rising in younger adults. Unfortunately, pancreatic, gastric, and esophageal cancers are also increasing in young people,” said Dr. Kimmie Ng of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in the U.S.
“The rising incidence of early-onset GI cancers is alarming and underscores the need for enhanced prevention strategies and early detection methods,” Ng added.
A second study, published in the British Journal of Surgery, found that newly diagnosed early-onset GI cancer cases rose by 14.8 percent between 2010 and 2019.
While the number of cases remains highest among those aged 40 to 49, researchers noted that the rate of increase is steeper in younger age groups. According to the findings, also led by Dr. Ng, individuals born in 1990 are twice as likely to develop colon cancer and four times as likely to develop rectal cancer compared to those born in 1950.
The studies linked the rise in early-onset GI cancers to modifiable lifestyle factors such as obesity, poor diet, sedentary behavior, smoking, and alcohol use.
Researchers also emphasized the importance of genetic testing for patients diagnosed at younger ages to evaluate familial cancer risk and guide treatment decisions. Expanding access to early screening was also highlighted as critical.
“Screening adherence is absolutely critical. Each missed screening is a lost opportunity to detect cancer early when it is more treatable, or to prevent cancer altogether by identifying and removing precancerous polyps,” said Dr. Thejus Jayakrishnan of Dana-Farber. (Source: IANS)
