Oncologist Urges Under-40s to Check Unexplained Bleeding as Under-50 Cancer Cases Jumped 80%
Updated
Updated · AOL · Aug 15
Oncologist Urges Under-40s to Check Unexplained Bleeding as Under-50 Cancer Cases Jumped 80%
3 articles · Updated · AOL · Aug 15
Summary
Dr. Joshua G. Cohen said people under 40 should not dismiss unexplained bleeding, warning it can signal colorectal, stomach, bladder, kidney, cervical, uterine, lung or blood cancers.
Bleeding patterns can offer clues: blood in stool or black tar-like stool may point to digestive cancers, blood in urine to bladder or kidney cancer, and abnormal vaginal bleeding to cervical or uterine cancer.
Cohen said blood in the stool before age 45 should prompt a colonoscopy rather than waiting for routine screening age, adding that persistent bleeding with pain, fatigue or weight loss is especially concerning.
Cancer is still less common in younger adults, but under-50 diagnoses rose nearly 80% from 1990 to 2019 and deaths increased almost 28%, underscoring the value of early evaluation and screening.