Younger, Later, Sicker — Changing Faces of Colorectal Cancer

In this first episode of the "Voices in Colorectal Cancer" Series, medical oncologists Dr. Tiago Bianchi and Dr. Raji Shameem confront the dramatic shift in colorectal cancer (CRC) presentation, drawing on urgent, real-world data from a recent FLASCO survey.

The Troubling Trend:

• Younger: 91% of clinicians report seeing more CRC cases in patients under age 50, mirroring incidence spikes in Florida and across the US.
• Later: More than half of all cases are presenting as late-stage at diagnosis—a major gap in current cancer care that severely impacts survival.
• Sicker: This late presentation means younger patients face more aggressive treatment and unique survivorship challenges, significantly affecting their quality of life, including financial and functional well-being.

Addressing the Gaps: The doctors discuss the primary barriers driving these trends: lack of primary care relationships, payer issues, and patient education deficits. They highlight the critical need for:

• Updated screening practices and increased awareness among primary care providers.
• Targeted education and primary care partnerships to improve timely diagnosis and prevention.

Tune in to understand why CRC is increasingly a disease of the young, the consequences of delayed diagnosis, and what the oncology community is doing to bridge the gaps in screening and prevention.