age and lower gastrointestinal cancer

Last edited 04/2022 and last reviewed 10/2022

In 2000, with respect to the UK, it was stated (1):

  • 99% of lower gastrointestinal cancer occurs in patients over 40 years old

  • 85% of lower gastrointestinal cancer occurs in patients over 60 years old

UK statistics from CRUK state (2):

  • bowel cancer incidence is strongly related to age, with the highest incidence rates being in older people
  • in the UK in 2016-2018, on average each year more than 4 in 10 new cases (43%) were in people aged 75 and over
  • age-specific incidence rates rise steeply from around age 50-54
  • highest rates are in in the 85 to 89 age group for females and males
  • incidence rates are significantly lower in females than males in a number of (mainly older) age groups
    • gap is widest at age 65 to 69, when the age-specific incidence rate is 1.7 times lower in females than males

However a New England Journal of Medicine review notes (3):

  • early-onset disease (at <50 years of age) accounts for 10% of colorectal cancer cases, and the incidence is increasing, particularly in high-income countries
    • patients often present with advanced disease in the left colon
    • one in six patients has deficient DNA mismatch repair
    • screening is now recommended to begin at 45 years of age

Reference:

Related pages:

colorectal cancer