Incidence of early-onset (<50 years) colorectal cancer (EOCRC) is increasing in developed countries. The aim was to investigate autoimmune and metabolic conditions as risk factors for EOCRC. In a nationwide nested case-control study, we included all EOCRC cases in Sweden diagnosed during 2007-2016, together with controls, matched for birth year, sex, and county. Information on exposure of autoimmune or metabolic disease was collected from the National Patient Register and Prescribed Drugs Registry. Hazard ratios (HR) as measures of the association between EOCRC and the exposures were estimated using conditional logistic regression. In total, 2626 EOCRC patients and 15,756 controls were included. A history of metabolic disease nearly doubled the incidence hazard of EOCRC (HR 1.82, 95% CI 1.66-1.99). A sixfold increased incidence hazard of EOCRC (HR 5.98, 95% CI 4.78-7.48) was seen in those with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), but the risk increment decreased in presence of concomitant metabolic disease (HR 3.65, 95% CI 2.57-5.19). Non-IBD autoimmune disease was not statistically significantly associated with EOCRC. IBD and metabolic disease are risk factors for EOCRC and should be considered in screening guidelines.

People with early-onset colorectal cancer, under the age of 50, are more likely to experience diagnostic delay and to be diagnosed at later stages of the disease than older people. Advanced stage diagnosis potentially requires invasive therapeutic management at a time of life when these patients are establishing intimate relationships, raising families, building careers and laying foundations for financial stability. Barriers to timely diagnosis at primary care level have been identified but the patient perspective has not been investigated.
Personal accounts of cancer care are increasingly accessed as rich sources of patient experience data. This study uses mixed methods, incorporating quantitative content analysis and qualitative thematic analysis, to investigate patients\' accounts of early-onset colorectal cancer diagnosis published on prominent bowel cancer support websites in the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand.
Patients\' perceptions (n = 273) of diagnostic barriers at primary care level were thematically similar across the three countries. Patients perceived that GPs\' low suspicion of cancer due to age under 50 contributed to delays. Patients reported that their GPs seemed unaware of early-onset colorectal cancer and that they were not offered screening for colorectal cancer even when \'red flag\' symptoms were present. Patients described experiences of inadequate information continuity within GP practices and across primary, specialist and tertiary levels of care, which they perceived contributed to diagnostic delay. Patients also reported tensions with GPs over the patient-centredness of care, describing discord related to symptom seriousness and lack of shared decision-making.
Wider dissemination of information about early-onset colorectal cancer at primary care level is imperative given the increasing incidence of the disease, the frequency of diagnostic delay, the rates of late-stage diagnosis and the dissatisfaction with patient experience reported by patients whose diagnosis is delayed. Patient education about diagnostic protocols may help to pre-empt or resolve tensions between GPs\' enactment of value-based care and patients\' concerns about cancer. The challenges of diagnosing early-onset colorectal cancer are significant and will become more pressing for GPs, who will usually be the first point of access to a health system for this growing patient population.

Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) is a rare syndrome caused by adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) gene mutation resulting in the development of hundreds of adenomatous colorectal polyps. The disease process usually manifests fully by the second decade of life. Total colectomy or restorative proctocolectomy is often required to prevent the development of colorectal adenocarcinoma. Routine surveillance following surgery is critical for the early detection of polyps or malignancy. We present a rare case of a 31-year-old male with a history of FAP status post total proctocolectomy with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA) who presented with acute exacerbation of lower back pain and new-onset lower extremity paresthesia. Imaging demonstrated an aggressive T12 vertebral body lesion. Pathology following laminectomy demonstrated metastatic adenocarcinoma. Subsequent pouchoscopy revealed a distal 1.5-cm pedunculated lesion arising from remnant rectal tissue with pathology confirming moderately differentiated rectal adenocarcinoma. This patient underwent a prophylactic proctocolectomy 20 years prior to this admission but was lost to follow-up prior to any endoscopic evaluations. Despite postoperative surveillance guidelines and patient counseling, follow-up and recommended endoscopic evaluation are often inadequate. This case examines potential socioeconomic factors influencing the completion of surveillance endoscopy and also represents an opportunity to incorporate education and provide resources to patients with FAP to improve surveillance examinations and mitigate the development of preventable malignancies.

OBJECTIVE: There has been an alarming increase in colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence among young adults aged < 50 years, and factors driving this upward trend are unknown. This study investigated associations between various medical, lifestyle, and dietary factors and risk of early-onset CRC (EO-CRC).
METHODS: A population-based case-control study was conducted in Ontario, Canada during 2018-2019. EO-CRC cases aged 20-49 years (n = 175) were identified from the Ontario Cancer Registry; sex- and age group-matched controls (n = 253) were recruited through random digit dialing. Data on potential a priori risk factors were collected using a web-based self-reported questionnaire. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated using multivariable logistic regression.
RESULTS: Family history of CRC in a first- or second-degree relative (OR 2.37; 95% CI 1.47-3.84), longer sedentary time (≥ 10 vs. < 5 h/day, OR 1.93; 95% CI 1.02-3.65), greater consumption of sugary drinks (≥ 7 vs. < 1 drinks/week, OR 2.99; 95% CI 1.57-5.68), and a more Westernized dietary pattern (quartile 4 vs. 1, OR 1.92; 95% CI 1.01-3.66) were each associated with an increased risk of EO-CRC. Conversely, calcium supplement use (OR 0.53; 95% CI 0.31-0.92), history of allergy or asthma (OR 0.62; 95% CI 0.39-0.98), and greater parity in females (≥ 3 vs. nulliparity, OR 0.29; 95% CI 0.11-0.76) were each associated with a reduced risk.
CONCLUSIONS: Modifiable factors, particularly sedentary behavior and unhealthy diet including sugary drink consumption, may be associated with EO-CRC risk. Our findings, if replicated, may help inform prevention strategies targeted at younger persons.