What accounts for increases in colorectal cancer among younger people? Elizabeth Tracey reports

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A comprehensive look at lifestyle factors and cancer rates among both older and younger people has left many people scratching their heads. The UK study examined a range of exposures and lifestyle factors trying to elucidate relationships, especially those that might explain the alarming increase in colorectal cancer among younger people. Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center director William Nelson says what’s noteworthy is what isn’t related.

Nelson: Consumption of ultra processed foods, that's actually declined over the past decade. Sugar sweetened beverages declined over the past decade. Antibiotic use declined over the past decade, smoking tremendous declines. Vaping hasn't increased that much, air pollution improved, chemicals associated with plastics and forever chemicals declined in the last decade. So what this makes you wonder is what is going on when many of the things you would attribute to cancer increasing across young and old adults they're all declining.    :32

At Johns Hopkins, I’m Elizabeth Tracey.