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New Delhi. Due to addiction of burger-pizza, chowmein and other junk food, youth are falling prey to intestinal cancer. Intestinal cancer, which usually occurs at the age of 50-60 years, is now affecting youth of 30 years of age.

This has been revealed in a study by Delhi State Cancer Institute (DSCI). The institute conducted the study on 215 intestinal cancer patients. In comparison, about 60 percent of the patients with this type of cancer, which is more common in men, were below 50 years of age. Most of them are between 30-40 years of age.

According to the study, it is generally seen that intestinal cancer is being seen in young youth due to lack of fiber rich diet and other reasons. This is not a normal thing. In western countries, the average age of intestinal cancer is found at the age of 68 in men and 72 in women, whereas in studies it is being found even at the age of 30.

Dr. Pragya Shukla, head of the department of oncology of Delhi State Cancer Institute, says that if this cancer occurs at an early age, the treatment is not effective. The recovery rate of patients remains very poor. Due to this cancer, the mortality rate of patients is also high.

Government should change the guidelines
Dr. Shukla said that the purpose of screening is to detect cancer early and treat it, but in the country, colon cancer is screened at older ages. Even if colon cancer is found in young people, the effect of treatment is found to be very poor. In such a situation, the government should change the guidelines of screening. We believe that the government should start screening from the age of 40.

Mutation occurs in cancer of youth
Dr. Shukla said that intestinal cancer is very aggressive in youth. The cancers found in these contain mutations. In such a situation, we will have to see what are the mutations occurring in the youth. There is a need to study these on a large scale. The mutation found will have to be treated targetedly. More molecular testing will have to be done to catch it.

Which has more?
– Consumption of fried food
– Pizza, burger, junk food
– Consumption of tobacco and alcohol
What to eat for protection
– fiber rich diet
– coarse grains
– bran flour
– easily digestible food products

what are the symptoms
– weight loss
– Losing more than 10 percent weight in six months without doing anything
– feeling weak
– Leakage of blood in the body
– Swelling in any part of the body
– Constipation or unexplained diarrhea
– Change in defecation time
– loss of appetite

This is how the study was done
Total patients – 215 colon cancer patients
59.06 percent patients – below 50 years of age
– Age of most patients – 31-40 years
– 40.09 percent patients – above 50 years of age
– 36.27 percent patients are women
– 63.72 percent patients are male
– Left sided colon cancer in 46 percent of patients
– 39.5 percent patients have right sided colon cancer
– 13.9 percent patients rectal involvement
– Family history of colorectal carcinoma in 24 percent of patients.
– 64 percent patients with routine follow up
– Chronic anemia found in 59 percent patients
– 68 percent patients complain of loss of appetite