Assessing Risk for Gastrointestinal Cancers: Forewarned Is Forearmed…˙

Abstract

Gastrointestinal cancers are an important cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. The epidemiology of these diverse tumors is shifting. Colorectal cancer (CRC), historically a disease of older people in the Western hemisphere, has become a global problem affecting increasing numbers of younger individuals. Implementation of population-based CRC screening in many countries has decreased disease-related morbidity and mortality successfully in persons aged ≥50 years. However, the increasing incidence of CRC in young individuals raises questions about additional potential risk factors, beyond age and family history, that should be considered in assessing risk for gastrointestinal neoplasia and developing interventions to more effectively treat and prevent cancers.