[Health Tip] South Korea Ranks First Worldwide in Colorectal Cancer Incidence Among Young Adults... Early Detection Is Crucial

Colon Cancer Screening Recommended After Age 50
"Early Detection Difficult When Colon Cancer Occurs at a Young Age"

Visit Clinic If Symptoms Like Bloody Stool or Constipation Occur
Early Stage Can Be Cured with Endoscopic Resection... Later Requires Colon Resection

[Image source=Getty Images]

[Asia Economy Reporter Chunhee Lee] Colon cancer, once considered a cancer primarily occurring in those over 50, is now increasingly appearing in young and middle-aged adults. According to the Lancet Gastroenterology Journal on the 6th, the incidence rate of colon cancer among Koreans aged 20 to 49 is 12.9 per 100,000 population, ranking first among 42 countries surveyed, indicating a particularly high risk domestically.

However, in Korea, colon cancer screening is recommended starting at age 50, resulting in low awareness of colon cancer among younger people. Professor Yoonyoung Park of the Department of Surgery at Gangdong Kyung Hee University Hospital expressed concern, saying, "Most individuals under 50 are diagnosed with colon cancer only after symptoms appear," and "early detection is difficult when colon cancer occurs at a young age."

The prognosis of colon cancer is known to be worse in patients under 50 compared to those over 50. This is not because the prognosis differs by age itself, but rather due to delayed diagnosis in young colon cancer patients. Younger individuals tend to overlook symptoms suggestive of colon cancer such as bloody stools, constipation, tenesmus, and weight loss, attributing them to minor issues like hemorrhoids, which leads to delayed diagnosis due to lack of thorough examination. In contrast, patients over 50 have more opportunities for early diagnosis through screening even without symptoms, and the time from symptom onset to diagnosis is significantly shorter.

Among foods, studies suggest that processed meats such as ham, sausages, and bacon, as well as red meat, influence the development of colon cancer. Smoking, alcohol consumption, and obesity are also considered major risk factors for colon cancer. However, these factors remain somewhat controversial. Regarding family history, attention should be paid to familial adenomatous polyposis and hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer.

Professor Park advised, "Even if you maintain a healthy lifestyle and feel confident about your health, if you have a family history of colon cancer or experience symptoms such as bloody stools, weight loss, narrowed stool diameter, constipation, or abdominal pain, you must visit a hospital for evaluation."

Professor Park Yoon-young, Department of Surgery, Gangdong Kyung Hee University Hospital (Photo by Gangdong Kyung Hee University Hospital)

Treatment for colon cancer varies depending on factors such as location, depth, lymph node metastasis, and distant metastasis, and includes endoscopic treatment, surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. Among these, surgery is the most essential treatment, while radiation and chemotherapy are used as adjunctive measures before or after surgery.

Stage 1 colon cancer has a favorable prognosis, with a 5-year relative survival rate of 93.9%. If there are no risk factors such as lymphovascular invasion or poor differentiation, and the cancer is confined to the mucosa or has very shallow invasion into the submucosa, treatment can be achieved with endoscopic resection alone.

However, from stage 2 onward, complete surgical resection is the fundamental treatment for cure. Stage 4 colon cancer presents numerous scenarios depending on the extent of the primary tumor, the location and number of metastatic lesions, so treatment decisions?including whether surgery on the primary tumor is necessary or whether to assess response after chemotherapy before deciding on surgery?are made by reflecting both the medical team's opinions and the patient's preferences.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.