Colorectal cancer is noted to be on the rise in younger patients. This is concerning as rates have steadily declined in other age groups. Although a small percentage overall, the rate of most marked rise in colon cancer is seen in the 20’s. New research suggests colorectal cancer is clinically different in younger patients. The study was published in Cancer by Jonathan Loree, MD, who was a gastrointestinal medical oncology clinical research fellow at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Patients younger than 50 years old reported microsatellite instability, fewer BRAF V600 mutations, and primary tumors in the distal colon or rectum, according to the study. This is colon cancer awareness month, so get screened now if you have not already!

See the study here.