key papersKey paper
Colorectal cancer incidence patterns in the United States, 1974 to 2013
Analysing four decades of US registry data, this study showed colorectal cancer incidence rising steeply in adults under 50 while falling in older adults, with people born around 1990 having double the colon cancer risk and quadruple the rectal cancer risk of those born around 1950.
Overview
Age-period-cohort analysis of colorectal cancer incidence from SEER registries between 1974 and 2013, showing increases of 1 to 2 percent per year in adults aged 20 to 39 and rising rectal cancer incidence in those aged 40 to 54, alongside declines in adults 55 and older attributed to screening.
Observational studyChanged practice
Authors
Siegel RL, Fedewa SA, Anderson WF, et al.
Published
Findings
- Colon cancer incidence rising 1 to 2.4 percent per year in adults aged 20 to 39 since the mid-1980s.
- Rectal cancer incidence rising about 3.2 percent per year in adults aged 20 to 29 and 30 to 39.
What it means
This is the paper that made early-onset colorectal cancer a public health issue and drove the change in screening age.
Caveats
- Registry analysis cannot identify causes.
- Some increase may reflect greater detection through colonoscopy for symptoms.