As medical director of the , Dr. Keith Argenbright is on alert when it comes to rates of early-onset cancer in Tarrant County.
In recent months, Argenbright and other experts have been keeping their eyes on one concerning trend: Colorectal cancer is increasing among younger adults.
develops from growths in the colon鈥檚 inner lining. Colon cancer and rectal cancer are often grouped together because they have many features in common.
Nearly double the number of young adults under the age of 54 are being diagnosed with colorectal cancer today compared to a decade ago. Diagnoses of people under 54 increased from 11% in 1995 to 20% in 2019, according to a .
Argenbright said researchers don鈥檛 understand why colon cancer is on the rise in younger populations, but many are trying to figure it out.
Despite the increases, the overall number of cases in people younger than 40 is still low, and remains exceedingly rare in people under the age of 30.
In Tarrant County, nonprofit saw an increase in colon cancer referrals for people in their 30s last year. Still, the majority of the nonprofit鈥檚 referrals continue to be patients in their 40s and older.
Some data suggests environmental factors, such as air quality and food production, could be a key factor in the diagnoses, said Argenbright.
鈥淢aybe it鈥檚 the toxins from the air we breathe or the stuff we鈥檙e ingesting, especially as we鈥檝e gone to more of these ultraprocessed foods,鈥� he said. 鈥淎gain, we haven鈥檛 completely figured out which factors are causing this to happen, but it鈥檚 absolutely happening.鈥�
Recent generations have consumed more and have been known to . But, there is definitely more research that needs to be conducted to confirm these habits are contributing factors, said Argenbright.
Other data suggests and a could be factors in rising incidences of colon cancer in younger adults. Researchers suggest the rising incidences are due to hereditary factors, but the majority of early onset diagnoses don鈥檛 have a genetic predisposition, said Carlton Allen, program manager for prevention at the Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas.
Across Texas, researchers are seeing similar trends of colon cancer rates rising in younger populations, Allen said.
Colon cancer is the third most common cause of cancer death in both men and women in Texas. An estimated 12,444 Texans were diagnosed with colorectal cancer in 2022 and about 4,447 died from it, .
Argenbright emphasized the importance of staying aware of research updates and pointed to the innovations in cancer treatments that have been made over the past decade.
鈥淲e have so many more drugs now than we did even 10 years ago,鈥� he said. 鈥淎s you go through this illness, we鈥檙e going to be discovering new therapies that we鈥檒l be able to use that we don鈥檛 even have available to us now. It鈥檒l just take us a little while longer.鈥�
For now, health experts advise adults as young as 20 years old to be aware of the warning signs associated with colon cancer.
Adults should talk to their doctors about any symptoms, including constipation, rectal bleeding or sudden changes in bowel movements. The incidence rate is still too low to justify routine colonoscopies for young adults, .
To avoid colon cancer, young adults should exercise, consume adequate fiber, drink responsibly and lose weight, if possible.
People who do not have an increased risk for colorectal cancer should get a colonoscopy screening every 10 years, .
In May 2021, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force to start colorectal cancer screening from 50 to 45.
For Tarrant County residents without health insurance, Texas Health Resources鈥� and the Moncrief Cancer Institute offer services and kits. Make an appointment by calling Texas Health Resources at 855-318-7696 or .
David Moreno is the health reporter for the Fort Worth Report. His position is supported by a grant from Texas Health Resources. Contact him at david.moreno@fortworthreport.org or .
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