Colorectal cancer incidence is increasing among younger people, Elizabeth Tracey reports

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The nation’s cancer report card shows that while overall rates of colorectal cancer are declining, among younger people they are increasing. Kathy Bull Henry, a colorectal cancer expert at Johns Hopkins, says especially in those who are younger, symptoms can be difficult to pin down.

Bull Henry: Clinical presentation of colorectal cancer can be varied. Some patients have no symptoms at all. This is the population that we are actually targeting for screening. Others presenting with symptoms may be very nonspecific, or can be very serious types of symptoms, the point is that sometimes, the presentation of colon cancer can present as other anal rectal diseases like hemorrhoids, and so you should not ignore these symptoms and should seek attention from your primary care provider.  :32

Bull Henry says if you have a family history of colorectal cancer paying attention to this range of symptoms is even more important. At Johns Hopkins, I’m Elizabeth Tracey.