The conundrum of the young colon cancer patient

Background Colonoscopy has had a major impact on the incidence and survival of colon cancer for patients who are screened, usually beginning at the age of 50. Meanwhile, the incidence rate of colon cancer is actually increasing in the patients younger than 50 while no routine screening is implemented for this age group. Methods All patients surgically treated for colon cancer (2004–2011) without preexisting high-risk characteristics (hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer, inflammatory bowel disease) were included ( n = 1,015). Age-related disparities in baseline disease and outcomes were reviewed. Results Patients younger than 50 years of age ( n = 108; 10.6%) had the greatest baseline rates of metastatic (20.4% vs 8.0%; P