Colorectal cancer (CRC) diagnosed before the age of 50, referred to as early-onset CRC, is on the rise in the United States and worldwide. A study published in 2020 reported the incidence of CRC in people aged 20-49 increased by about 2% per year from 2000-2013 in the United States. Although screening recommendations have been adjusted to address this trend, many younger patients still face diagnostic delays, leading to more advanced stages of cancer and lower survival rates. A recent study focused on identifying the warning signs and symptoms that could lead to earlier detection of early-onset CRC.
The case-control study included 5,075 early-onset CRC cases and 22,378 controls. The researchers found four red-flag signs and symptoms associated with an increased risk of early-onset CRC:
- Abdominal pain
- Rectal bleeding
- Diarrhea
- Iron deficiency anemia
These symptoms occurred between 3 months to 2 years before the actual diagnosis. Rectal bleeding showed the strongest association with early-onset CRC, followed by iron deficiency anemia.
Interestingly, these associations were stronger in younger adults (aged 18-34 and 35-44) than in older adults (aged 45-49). The study revealed that 19% of early-onset CRC patients experienced one or more of these red-flag symptoms at least 3 months before diagnosis, with an average of almost 9 months of symptoms prior to diagnosis.
The study’s findings suggest that increased awareness of these red-flag signs and symptoms among both healthcare providers and patients could lead to earlier detection and diagnosis of early-onset CRC. This, in turn, could result in less aggressive treatments and improved quality of life for patients. Although further research is needed, these findings provide a starting point for facilitating early detection, particularly in younger adults who are not covered by updated screening guidelines.