Increase in Incidence of Colorectal Cancer Among Young Men and Women in the United States
Rebecca
L. Siegel, Ahmedin Jemal and Elizabeth M. Ward
Department of
Surveillance and Health Policy Research, American Cancer Society,
Atlanta, Georgia
The recent,
accelerated decline in colorectal cancer incidence rates has largely
been attributed to an increase in screening rates among adults 50
years and older. We used data from 13Surveillance, Epidemiology, and
End Results cancer registries to report on colorectal cancer incidence
trends from 1992 through 2005 among adults under age 50 years, for
whom screening is not recommended for persons at average risk, by sex,
race/ethnicity,age, stage at diagnosis, and anatomic subsite.
Overall, incidence rates of colorectal cancer per 100,000 young
individuals (ages 20-49 years) increased 1.5% per year in men and 1.6%
per year in women from 1992 to 2005. Among non-Hispanic Whites,
rates increased for both men and women in each 10-year age
grouping (20-29, 30-39, and 40-49 years) and for every stage of
diagnosis.The increase in incidence among non-Hispanic Whites was
predominantly driven by rectal cancer, for which there was an average
increase of 3.5% per year in men and 2.9% per year in women over
the13-year study interval. In contrast to the overall decreasing trend
in colorectal cancer incidence in the United States, rates are
increasing among men and women under age 50 years. Further studies are
necessary to elucidate causes for this trend and identify potential
prevention and early detection strategies.(Cancer Epidemiol
Biomarkers Prev 2009;18(6):1695-8)
Requests
for reprints: Rebecca Siegel, Surveillance and Health Policy
Research, American Cancer Society, 250 Williams Street, North West,
6D123, Atlanta, GA 30303-1002. Phone: 404-329-7992; Fax:
404-327-6450.
E-mail: rebecca.siegel@cancer.org
http://cebp.aacrjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/18/6/1695
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