It's one of the most pressing medical mysteries of our time: Why are so many young people getting colorectal cancer?
Since the 1980s, colorectal cancer rates have been declining among U.S. adults over age 50. But, for younger adults, the trend is rapidly going in the wrong direction. While the overall numbers are still relatively low, colorectal cancer will become the leading cause of cancer-related deaths for adults in their 20s, 30s and 40s by 2030.
New evidence suggests the reason may trace back to early childhood. In a study recently published in Nature, scientists unveiled a link between the rise in young colorectal cancers and a toxin called colibactin. For years, we’ve known that colibactin, produced by certain strains of bacteria like E. coli, can mutate our DNA and potentially cause colorectal cancer.
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