People who are diagnosed with colon cancer before the age of 50 tend to be at a more advanced stage of the disease, but they also have better survival rates irrespective of the stage, recent research has found.

Colon (bowel) cancer is the second most commonly diagnosed type of cancer in Ireland. More than 2,200 people are diagnosed with the disease here every year. The highest incidence is among people aged 55-74, however according to the scientists who carried out this latest research, ‘there has been an increased incidence of colon cancer in young patients under 50 years, but they are underrepresented in research studies'.

They set out to compare the characteristics and survival outcomes of colon cancer in people aged 18-49 and those aged over 50. They reviewed data relating to over 375,000 patients with colon cancer.

The study found that younger patients tended to be in a more advanced stage of the disease at the time of their diagnosis. For example, they were more likely to have distant metastasis, which is when cancer has spread from its original tumour to distant organs or lymph nodes.

However despite this, the five-year survival rate was better for younger patients at all stages of the disease. In other words, a person was more likely to survive the disease - irrespective of the stage - if they were under the age of 50.

The scientists determined that age is an independent predictor of death in colon cancer, with younger patients having a statistically significant lower risk of dying.

"Previous studies of YPs (young patients) with colon cancer were found to have either equivalent or better survival in stages II and IV compared to older patients. Our study shows that young patients less than 50 years of age have more advanced stages of colon cancer at diagnosis but have better stage specific survival in all stages," they said.

They presented their findings at the recent annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology in Chicago.