ACS cancer report: Urgent need for dietary shift to prevent colorectal cancer in young adults

22 Jan 2024 --- The annual American Cancer Society (ACS) cancer statistics report warns of a rise in the incidence of colorectal cancer among the US’ younger population. The health and nutrition advocacy nonprofit Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) points to this worrying colorectal data as an example of the public health concern meat and dairy-heavy diets pose.

The PCRM is calling for ACS to recommend a plant-based diet and the reduction of processed red meat as a preventative measure to address the issue. 

“Processed meat has been categorized as a Group 1 carcinogen by the WHO since 2015, yet bacon and hot dogs are still served in many hospitals and schools. We need to do better,” says Dr. Roxanne Becker, medical editor and educator at the PCRM, which has more than 17,000 doctor members.

“Our research shows that the best way to improve the quality of your health is to improve the quality of the foods you eat, and that means avoiding animal products and eating a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, grains and beans,” she adds.

Worrying spike in colon cancer cases
The latest ACS report, published in the American Cancer Society Journals, presents an estimated number of new invasive cancer cases in the US in 2024. While the data reveals a decrease in the cancer death rate in recent decades, it predicts more than two million total new cancer cases, among which 152,810 are expected to be colorectal.

The data reveals a 1–2% rise in the annual colorectal cancer rate among young adults in the country, which the study defines as those under the age of 55. 

Of the total, 106,590 cases could affect the colon and 46,220 the rectum. Men are more likely to develop both types of cancer than women, with the margin being most significant in the occurrence of rectal cancer.

The data for colon and rectal cancer are presented together due to the common misdiagnosis of rectal cancer, particularly in cases that result in death. Among men, prostate, lung and colorectal cancer represent close to half of all cases. 

In response to the ACS report, the PCRM provides additional data revealing that, in the 1990s, colorectal cancer was the fourth leading cause of cancer in men and women under 50 years of age. It has taken over the first spot for men between 29–49 and the third for women aged 20–39. 

Diet is a major cause
As a response to the report, the PCRM points to obesity as particularly pertinent to increased gastrointestinal cancer risk, including colorectal cancers. People who are overweight or obese in early and middle adulthood are at an increased risk. 

According to the organization, the consumption of red and processed meat can increase the risk of colorectal, pancreatic, prostate and other cancers. Grilling and smoking meat increases the chance of undesirable health outcomes.

The PCRM highlights plant-based diets as the “most effective way to reduce overweight and obesity and lower the risk of colon cancer.” 

“Eating a plant-based diet increases consumption of fiber and antioxidants associated with cancer prevention while simultaneously avoiding the compounds in animal products linked to cancer risk,” Becker explains. “It has long been known that people who avoid meat are at reduced risk.”

A recent study by ProVeg Netherlands has also found that vegetable burgers, minced meat, meatballs, smoked sausages, and bacon score better than traditional products regarding nutritional value. 

The issue is not just relevant to the US public, as a study released last year by South Korean researchers revealed a concerning rise in processed meat consumption in Asia, which has led to a 32% higher risk of death among women and a 21% higher risk among men. 

By Milana Nikolova