Growing Number of Koreans in 20s and 30s with Colorectal Cancer

This undated photo provided by Asan Medical Center shows doctors in surgery.

SEOUL, Oct. 21 (Korea Bizwire) — Close to 150,000 Koreans are now suffering from colorectal cancer. A majority of them are seniors, but there has been a significant increase among those in their 20s and 30s.

The National Health Insurance Service reported that there were 148,410 people treated for colorectal cancer last year, up by 6.6 percent from 2017.

Among those treated for colorectal cancer, 87,740 were men, exceeding the number of female patients (60,670). Since 2017, however, the increase among women (8.4 percent) was faster than for men (5.5 percent).

Colorectal cancer occurs primarily among seniors. Last year, 71.9 percent of colorectal cancer patients were over 60 years of age.

Patients in their 20s and 30s comprised only 2.6 percent of all colorectal cancer patients last year, but have continued to rise in number over the past five years.

The number of colorectal cancer patients in their 20s last year jumped by 44 percent from the previous year. Those in their 30s jumped by 31 percent.

For younger patients, cancer cells spread faster. They aren’t old enough to qualify for periodic cancer examinations, raising the risk of cancer being discovered too late.

Experts argue that the standard age to qualify for the periodic cancer examination should be reset, and in-depth studies should be carried out on the cause of cancer among the younger generation.

Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)