Colorectal cancer presenting in young adults in Kamrup Urban District cancer registry (2007–2016)

INTRODUCTION: According to the GLOBOCAN 2020 report, colorectal cancers (CRC) comprise 10.6% of all cancers worldwide. Globally, colon cancers are the fourth-most common cancers, and the rectum is the 7th among all cancers in both sexes. However, the recent reports have shown that the incidence rates of CRC are rising in the younger age group. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Population-based cancer registry (PBCR) – Kamrup was established in 2003 under the network of the National Cancer Registry Program of the Indian Council of Medical Research. The data sources for the study have been used from the urban component of PBCR – Kamrup only. The data collected over the 10-year period of 2007–2016 are presented here. RESULTS: A total of 831 cases were diagnosed with CRC cases, of which 434 (52.2%) were colon cancers and 397 (47.8%) were rectal cancers. Of the total 831 cases, 132 cases (15.9%) were below 40 years of age, of which 60 (13.8%) were colon cancers and 72 (18.1%) were rectal cancers. The age-standardized rates of colorectal cancer in India have been estimated to be 6.0 in males and 3.7/100,000 in females. For colon cancers, the Aizawl district had the highest age-adjusted rate (7.2), followed by Mizoram state (5.5) and Kamrup Urban (5.4) in males. CONCLUSIONS: Colorectal cancer, though a disease of the elderly, is seen in younger age groups with increased incidence in the recent years.