Brief
Study links aggressive colon cancer to teens with high mortality
Researchers say aggressive colon cancer is rising among adolescents and carries a high risk of death and relapse.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Researchers from the Mass General Brigham Cancer Institute presented data on aggressive colon cancer in patients 21 and under at the American Academy of Pediatrics annual meeting. The study, covering 84 cases diagnosed between 2012 and 2023 at 34 U.S. hospitals, found a 45% death rate and a 37% relapse rate within a year.
What happened
The cohort’s average age at diagnosis was 16.5 years. Back or abdominal pain was reported by 74% of patients, making it the most common presenting symptom. Changes in bowel habits affected 45%, unexplained weight loss 40%, and rectal bleeding 38%. Most patients presented with advanced disease that had already spread to lymph nodes, liver or lungs.
What the reports add
The Daily Mail article notes that the overall UK bowel‑cancer survival rate is about 60% across all ages, highlighting the stark contrast for teenagers. It also mentions that one in five of the young patients had a first‑degree relative with colorectal cancer, suggesting a possible hereditary component.
What was said
Dr Erica Arnold, a pediatric surgeon and lead author, told the outlet, “Colorectal cancer is, unfortunately, becoming more common in adolescents and young adults and represents a different disease than colorectal cancer diagnosed in older adults.” She added, “When diagnosed, it is often aggressive and associated with high rates of relapse and mortality.”
How it came about
The study excluded patients already known to be at high risk, such as those with inflammatory bowel disease, to focus on otherwise healthy adolescents. Its findings build on two decades of rising colorectal‑cancer rates in people under 50, a trend previously linked to diet, sedentary lifestyles and obesity.
Key facts
- 45% of teenagers with colon cancer died within a year of diagnosis (dailymail.co.uk)
- 37% experienced cancer relapse within a year (dailymail.co.uk)
- 74% reported back or abdominal pain as a symptom (dailymail.co.uk)
- Study covered 84 patients diagnosed between 2012 and 2023 at 34 US hospitals (dailymail.co.uk)
- Average age at diagnosis was 16.5 years (dailymail.co.uk)
Sources
- [1] dailymail.co.uk — originally reported as “Colon cancer now rising in teenagers, experts warn”
