Colorectal cancer in the young
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 25, 2026

Competing-Risk Nomogram for Predicting Cancer-Specific Survival in Multiple Primary Colorectal Cancer Patients after Surgery
Published on: September 27, 2024
Jessica B O'Connell1, Melinda A Maggard, Edward H Livingston
1Department of Surgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, Dallas, TX, USA. jbocjboc@hotmail.com
Background:
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is generally thought of as a disease of older persons; however a significant proportion of patients <40 years present with this disease. Many investigators have published single-institution series on CRC in the young, yet the data vary markedly. We performed a structured review of the current literature aiming to (1) characterize CRC in the young population and (2) determine how CRC in this population should be further addressed regarding detection and treatment.
Data Sources:
A Medline literature search was completed. Articles were chosen to include those studies that examined patients <40 years old. A total of 55 articles were chosen from the search and review of the bibliographies.
Conclusions:
We found that CRC in the young population appears to be more aggressive, to present with later stage, and to have poorer pathologic findings. However, if detected early, young patients with Dukes' stage A or B lesions have better overall 5-year survival rates. These findings emphasize the need for health care providers to have a heightened awareness when caring for this young population, particularly because excellent modalities exist to diagnose and treat colorectal cancer.
Related Concept Videos
Cancer Prevention
Some...
Cancer Prevention
Some...
Diverticular Disease of the Colon
Assessment of the Rectum and Anus
Rectal Inspection
Begin by inspecting the perianal and anal areas for color, texture, rashes,...
Cancer
Inflammatory Bowel Disease II: Ulcerative Colitis