Colorectal Cancer in Children

A study published in the Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition determined that children with colorectal cancer don't tend to fare as well as adults with the disease. The researchers attributed the worse prognosis to two factors: tumors in children are more aggressive and kids tend to be diagnosed later than adults.

How Common is Colorectal Cancer in Children?

With an occurrence rate of about three childhood cases of colorectal cancer for every 15 million kids, it's little wonder doctors seldom suspect the disease. But, that's where you come in. The researchers recommended that physicians pay particular attention to children with predisposing factors like a family history of colorectal cancer or rectal bleeding. If you have children, you may want to be on the lookout for those factors as well.

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_{Source: Kravarusic, D. and Feigin, E. "Colorectal Carcinoma in Childhood: A Retrospective Multicenter Study." Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition 44.2 (Feb. 2007): 209-211. PubMed. Accessed 8 Feb. 2007. [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=retrieve&db=pubmed&list_uids=17255833&dopt=Abstract].}