The increase in colorectal cancer in young people: "They often have symptoms, but they're thought to be hemorrhoids."

Colorectal cancer cases in young people have doubled in the last two decades. Research points to a possible cause in childhood: a bacterial toxin capable of damaging DNA from the earliest years of life.

El Colorectal cancer is experiencing a worrying increase among adults under 50What was traditionally considered a tumor associated with aging is now also affecting young people, who often They confuse the symptoms with hemorrhoids or other minor gastrointestinal disorders.

This delay in clinical suspicion results in late diagnoses, when the disease is already in more advanced stages.

“Colorectal cancer is not usually suspected in young people. Therefore, When symptoms appear, they are often attributed to an intolerance to some drug or to hemorrhoids." warns oncologist Juan Carlos Quero, from the Quirónsalud Sagrado Corazón Hospital.

One possible cause: a bacterial infection in childhood

Scientists from the National Center for Oncology Research (CNIO) have identified a possible cause of the increase in cases in young people: an early bacterial infection. According to the study published in Nature, some strains of Escherichia coli that naturally inhabit the intestine can produce a toxin called colibactin, which damages the DNA of intestinal cells during the first years of life.

“Mutations caused by colibactin occur during the first ten years of life. These early alterations could underlie the increased risk of colorectal cancer that develops years later," explains Marcos Díaz Gay, head of the CNIO Digital Genomics Group.

Common symptoms of colorectal cancer: signs you shouldn't ignore

El colon cancer and the rectal cancer They do not always present symptoms in their initial phases, which makes it even more important to early detection. According to CDC In the United States, these are the most common symptoms:

• Persistent changes in bowel habits.
• Presence of Blood in the stool (red or very dark).
• Diarrhea or constipation that does not resolve.
• Recurrent abdominal pain or discomfort.
• Sensation of incomplete evacuation.
• Unexplained weight loss or extreme fatigue.

These symptoms are usually misattributing to hemorrhoids, irritable bowel syndrome, or digestive stress, especially in young patients. Hence the importance of consulting a specialist if any persists.

Diagnosis and screening: keys to detecting cancer early

Spain has screening programs for those over 50, but this age group does not include young people who could also be at risk. The simplest test is the fecal occult blood test, which can be performed at home and can detect cancer even without visible symptoms.

"This discovery opens the door to developing preventive strategies from an earlier age," adds Ángel Lanas, scientific director of the IIS Aragón.

More than 15.000 deaths in 2024: the urgency to act

In 2024, colorectal cancer caused the death of more than 15.000 people in Spain, establishing itself as one of the most deadly tumors, but also one of the most preventable if detected in time.

Key findings

• Early-onset colorectal cancer has doubled in the last two decades.
• Colibactin can damage DNA in the colon, leaving a genetic signature specific.
• These mutations are 3,3 times more frequent in people under 40 years of age than in those over 70.
• The effect can begin before puberty, accelerating tumor development by even decades.

Implications

• A new path opens for the early detection and prevention of colorectal cancer.
• It is being investigated whether probiotics could eliminate colibactin-producing bacteria.
• There are genetic differences between countries, which could allow for the design of regional prevention strategies.
• If the current trend continues, colorectal cancer will be the leading cause of cancer death among young people in 2030.

This discovery represents a major step forward in understanding the genetic and environmental causes behind the rise in this type of cancer and proposes new public health strategies focused on children.

Source: Official Press

Main Image: A bacterium called colibactin could be triggering a colorectal cancer epidemic. / Freepik