Colon cancer affects more and more young people all over the world. The incidence increases among people under the age of 50. One of the largest increases is observed in the United Kingdom, New Zealand and Chile.
Colon cancer is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer and the second leading cause of disease-related mortality worldwide. In 2022 over 1.9 million new cases and nearly 904,000 deaths were registered.
The world health organization predicts that by 2040 the annual number of new cases of colon cancer will increase to 3.2 million.
The study, published in the medical journal The Lancet Oncology, found growth among the younger demographic in 27 of the 50 countries studied over the five-year period between 2013 and 2017. Among the countries, there is a significant annual increase with New Zealand (3.97%), Puerto Rico (3.81%) and England (3.59%).
Historically, the disease was more common in high-income countries such as the USA, Australia and Canada. However, they also happen to be increasing in low-income regions in Latin America and Asia, such as Argentina, Ecuador, Thailand and Turkey.
Japan, Chile and Israel, in which rapid urbanization and changes in the way of eating have been observed in the last few decades, have also registered a similar increase in the number of cases among the younger generation.
What is the reason for this change?
The increase in the incidence of colon cancer may be related to lifestyle changes in recent years and resulting changes in human gut bacteria.
Increased consumption of processed and unhealthy food and a sedentary lifestyle contribute to obesity. The change of generations also plays a role; Many people in high-income countries, born after 1950, are exposed to diets high in fat, sugar and fiber from an early age.
These diets lack sufficient nutrients such as antioxidants and fiber, which help maintain healthy intestinal cells and eliminate valuable substances such as carcinogens, inflammatory compounds, and bile acids produced by the digestion of high-fat foods that can stimulate abnormal growth. on the cages.
In addition, new data suggest that factors such as natural changes in the gut microbiome and chronic inflammation may contribute to cancer risk, but more research is needed to fully understand their potential impact.
"Gut microbiome" is a collection of trillions of bacteria, fungi, viruses and other microorganisms that live in the digestive tract and play a crucial role in digestion, immunity and overall health. | BGNES
