Huge increase in colorectal cancers among US white people

Colorectal cancer deaths have rocketed among under 55s – particularly white people – in the US since the mid-2000s, new figures reveal.

For decades, the most at-risk demographics were African Americans and over-55s.

However, rates have plummeted in blacks and older people after years of efforts to target diagnosis and deaths in these demographics. 

Simultaneously, death rates are rapidly increasing in younger people and white people, according to the figures published today in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

While experts celebrated the progress to cut black deaths, they admit they are baffled by the sharp rise in rates in whites, considering risk factors (such as obesity) have increased universally, as have preventative measures (such as screening).

‘Rising mortality strongly suggests that the increase in incidence is not only earlier detection of prevalent cancer, but a true and perplexing escalation in disease occurrence,’ said Rebecca Siegel of the American Cancer Society.

This graphs shows a small uptick in colorectal cancer death rates among white people. While it may look modest, experts warn the sharp rise is statistically huge – and completely baffling

The new research comes six months after Siegel’s previous study, which found that Millennials – those born between 1980 and 1995 – are four times more likely to develop rectal tumors stemming from the large intestine compared to those born around 1950.

Now, her study shows death rates have also rocketed. 

BREAKDOWN OF DEATH RATES (BY RACE): 

For the current study, Siegel and a research team analyzed data from the National Center for Health Statistics, representing more than 99 percent of deaths in the United States.

The analysis included 242,637 people ages 20 to 54 who died from colorectal cancer between 1970 and 2014.

At first, they saw a decline in mortality rates for 20-54-year-olds between 1970 and 2004. 

But as of 2005, rates started to rapidly climb, almost back up to the rate it was in 1970.  

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WHITE

The increase was confined to white individuals, among whom mortality rates increased by 1.4 percent per year.

While colorectal cancer diagnosis rates went up in people aged 21 to 37, the new figures show the rate of death increased in people aged 30 to 49.  

Mortality remained stable in white individuals aged 20 to 29 from 1988-2014.

But it increased from 1995-2014 by 1.6 percent per year in those aged 30 to 39 years.

In the last 12 years (since 2005), the mortality rate increased 1.9 percent per year among people aged 40 to 49 years old. 

Death rates also increased 0.9 percent per year for white people aged 50 to 54 years old since 2005.

BLACK 

Among black individuals, mortality declined throughout the study period at a rate of 0.4 percent to 1.1 percent annually.

This was the case for every age group.

Drop in death rates: Among black individuals, mortality declined throughout the study period

OTHER RACES

The report focused on Caucasians and African Americans, with other races in one category.  

Among other races combined, mortality rates declined from 1970-2006 and were stable thereafter.

RESEARCHERS ARE ‘PERPLEXED’ BY THE FIGURES

The authors note that these disparate racial patterns are inconsistent with trends in major risk factors for colorectal cancer like obesity, which is universally increasing.

They say rising colorectal cancer mortality in people in their 50s was particularly unexpected because screening, which can prevent cancer as well as detect it early, when it is more curable, has been recommended starting at age 50 for decades.

Screening prevalence has increased for all age groups over 50, but is lower in people 50 to 54 than in those 55 and older: 44 percent versus 62 percent, respectively, in 2013, according to the National Health Interview Survey. 

‘It is especially surprising for people in their 50s, for whom screening is recommended, and highlights the need for interventions to improve use of age-appropriate screening and timely follow-up of symptoms.’