Colorectal cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States. Unfortunately, many colon cancers are not detected in time, and this is especially true among younger patients who are increasingly being misdiagnosed. The risk of getting colon cancer increases with age which is why it is so puzzling to be seeing so many younger people in advanced stages of this disease. This year, nearly 18,000 people in the United States under 50 years of age will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer. If you had a colon cancer misdiagnosis or if treatment was not prompt, you may be entitled to compensation.
Missed Diagnosis
Colon cancer can be mistaken for many things. Oftentimes, a mass in the intestine develops and eventually becomes cancerous. Doctors may see a younger healthier person and dismiss cancer. The other problem is that colon cancer may appear to be a gastrointestinal issue, irritable bowel syndrome, hemorrhoids, or Crohn’s disease when it in fact is something much more serious like colorectal cancer. More research is needed to understand exactly why this cancer is not being caught in time among younger people.
More studies have been done on people over 50 years old and have found that colorectal cancer has been linked to obesity, physical inactivity, and smoking. The American Cancer Society now recommends that adults beginning at age 45 start colon cancer screenings.
...