Colorectal cancer increasing among younger adults in high-income countries

Colorectal cancer rates among those aged 50 and younger have steadily increased in recent years, according to a new report. Looking at data from 21 patient registries across seven high-income countries, researchers found that incidence of colon cancer ranged from a 1.8% increase in the U.K. to a 3.1% increase in Denmark. There were larger spikes in the incidence of rectal cancer in those aged 20-29: 18% annual case increase in Denmark and nearly 11% in Norway. At the same time, colorectal cancer rates in those aged 50 and older dropped in many of these countries. More studies are needed to identify the causes behind the trends, the authors write, in order to develop ways for early detection and intervention.