Doctors in Singapore are reporting an increasing trend of younger people diagnosed with colon cancer, which remains the number one cancer-killer in their country. A similar trend appears to be emerging worldwide including the Philippines.
Colon cancer, Singaporean doctors noted, used to affect those over 50 years old; however, a trend towards younger people in the last several years has alarmed local health officials. Some of the reported cases are just in their 20s.
Alan Jeff Lim, 26, started to experience problematic bowel movements last April. It wasn’t three months later that doctors figured out what was wrong.
“They initially ruled out cancer because of my age. I just went for a lot of tests like urine, stool, and blood tests” said Lim. An endoscopy finally revealed that he had stage 4 colorectal cancers and needed to have his entire colon removed.
Physicians are advised to consider colon cancer even in young individuals if the clinical presentation really suggests it. Common symptoms are changes in bowel pattern such as alternating constipation and diarrhea; diminishing caliber or thinning of stools and bloody stools or hematochezia. Abdominal cramps and unexplained loss of weight may also be present.
Doctors estimate that one in every twenty patients who suffer from colon cancer is below the age of 40.
Dr. Ang Peng Tiam, medical director of Parkway Cancer Centre in 5ngapore, explained that colon cancer is related to diet.” In the more affluent countries where there is a higher fat and meat content, and low fiber content, these groups of people are ‘,ore prone to developing colorectal cancer,” he said.
Doctors said the lack of exercise and stress, which lowers the immune system, could be contributing factors for the said disease.
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May.8,2012
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