The Global Epidemic of Young Onset Colorectal Cancer has Arrived - Implications for Irish Healthcare

Abstract

We are in the middle of a profound change in the epidemiology of colon cancer — one that will have transgenerational societal impacts, and requires re-imagining of how we are trying to reduce the burden of this cancer for our societies. By 2030 it is anticipated that young onset colorectal cancer (YO-CRC) defined as the development of colorectal cancer before 50 years of age will be the leading cause of death for adults between the ages of 20-49. In the past 3 decades the rates of cancer development in this cohort have almost doubled.

At present CRC is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer in males and females in Ireland, with over 2500 new cases reported annually. Globally, high income countries have the highest rates of YO-CRC however, low and middle income countries are also experiencing increasing incidence and mortality rates.