Author: Kayleigh Roberts, Senior Product Manager FIT, Alpha Laboratories
Fight Early Onset with Early Detection
For the longest time colorectal cancer has been branded as an “old age” disease – something only our grandparents need to worry about. But the reality is changing, and it’s changing fast. Over the past two decades, the global incidence of early-onset colorectal cancer (EOCRC) has surged by nearly 80%1. The question is: why?
Colorectal cancer is classified as EOCRC when it presents in younger people (under 50 years) and unfortunately changes to diets which include fattier, highly processed foods, refined sugars, and alcohol, as well as a prevalence of sedentary lifestyles2 mean that more and more younger people are presenting with gastrointestinal symptoms at increasingly advanced stages.
Reports on social media and the news show that it takes longer for younger people to be diagnosed as they do not fit the typical profile of a colorectal cancer patient. A report published in 2020 by Bowel Cancer UK for their ‘Never Too Young’ campaign has found that:
- 50% of younger people surveyed didn’t know that they could develop the disease before their diagnosis.
- 40% of individuals had to visit their GP three or more times before being referred for further tests.
- Nearly half of those diagnosed with bowel cancer after 2017 hadn’t been offered testing for Lynch syndrome, a genetic condition that can increase the lifetime risk of bowel cancer to up to 80%.
- 1 in 5 younger patients with bowel cancer said they did not have access to a Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS). Patients experienced varying levels of support at different points in their diagnosis, treatment and care.
- 40% of people were not satisfied with the amount of support and information about fertility and family planning they received.
Trust your gut – literally!
Gastrointestinal problems may not be due to bowel cancer as many less serious conditions have overlapping symptoms, but having an awareness and speaking to your GP is important to help tackle any potential issues before they have the chance to become more serious.
Typical symptoms of early onset colorectal cancer may include a mixture of:
- Unexplained changes in bowel habits or consistency, such as persistent diarrhoea or constipation.
- Rectal bleeding or blood in the poo.
- Chronic discomfort in the belly area, such as cramps, gas, or pain.
- A noticeable abdominal mass or feeling that the bowel doesn’t empty all the way during a bowel movement.
- Ongoing weakness or tiredness.
- Unintentional weight loss.
- Iron-deficiency anaemia.
Early detection saves lives… and it’s now easier than ever
Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer worldwide, but luckily, it is also one of the most preventable forms of cancer if detected early.
Over recent years there have been incredible advancements in technology which mean that even blood invisible to the eye can be detected on tiny samples of poo using a Faecal Immunochemical Test (FIT).
The presence of blood may indicate that the poo has passed over lesions or growths in the bowel, which may turn out to be completely harmless, but could also suggest a need for further investigation and follow-up.
The process for taking a poo sample no longer needs to be messy and unhygienic as specially designed sample collection pickers and patient information packs (aka FIT KITs), which contain all the guidance needed to take the sample and return it to the laboratory for processing, are now available. FIT is a simple, non-invasive test that is designed to be conducted in the comfort of patient’s own homes… empowering you to take control of your own health.
Your health is in your hands
Whilst it may seem embarrassing or uncomfortable to talk about gastrointestinal problems and poo, it’s time to break the stigma and take control. By simply knowing the symptoms and having the courage to reach out when needed, early detection can become the standard of care. Your future is worth fighting for. So, have the conversation. Take the test. And most importantly… don’t wait.
References:
1Jianhui Zhao, Liying Xu, Jing Sun, Mingyang Song, Lijuan Wang, Shuai Yuan, Yingshuang Zhu, Zhengwei Wan, Susanna Larsson, Konstantinos Tsilidis, Malcolm Dunlop, Harry Campbell, Igor Rudan, Peige Song, Evropi Theodoratou, Kefeng Ding, Xue Li – Global trends in incidence, death, burden and risk factors of early-onset cancer from 1990 to 2019: BMJ Oncology 2023;2: e000049.
2Wu CW, Lui RN. Early-onset colorectal cancer: Current insights and future directions. World J Gastrointest Oncol. 2022 Jan 15;14(1):230-241. doi: 10.4251/wjgo. v14.i1.230. PMID: 35116113; PMCID: PMC8790420.
