Nieves Martinez Lago, Specialist in the Field (FEA) of Medical Oncology at University Hospital Complex of Santiago de Compostela, shared a post on LinkedIn:
“Early-onset colorectal cancer (EOCRC) is reshaping digestive oncology.
A recent JAMA mortality analysis (1990–2023) confirms overall declines in cancer deaths among adults <50 — except for digestive cancers, particularly CRC.
The signal
- CRC is now the leading cause of cancer death in adults <50 in the US
- Mortality has increased steadily over three decades
- Reflects a broader shift in early-onset digestive malignancies
Key gaps
- Low clinical suspicion → delayed diagnosis
- Symptoms normalized in young adults
- Limited understanding of biological drivers
- Screening paradigms designed for older populations
What must change
- Risk-adapted, earlier screening
- Greater symptom awareness
- Molecular characterization of EOCRC
- Translational research focused on young-onset biology
Digestive oncology is at an inflection point.
EOCRC is no longer anecdotal — it is a structural epidemiological shift.”
Title: Leading Cancer Deaths in People Younger Than 50 Years
Authors: Rebecca L. Siegel, Nikita Sandeep Wagle, Ahmedin Jemal
Read the Full Article.
Other articles featuring Nieves Martinez Lago on OncoDaily.
