A growing number of people under 50 are being diagnosed with colorectal cancer. Colon cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths for both men and women and the expected death toll from it in 2025 is about 52,900 (American Cancer Society).

Recent research suggests that while a new push for earlier screening has led to more early-stage diagnoses, it doesn't fully explain the overall increase in cases among younger adults. The rise in diagnoses for this age group actually began in the mid-1990s and includes more advanced cancers as well.

What Caused The Increase In Earlier Colon Cancer Diagnosis?

In recent years, major health organizations like the American Cancer Society and the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force lowered the recommended age for average-risk adults to start getting screened for colorectal cancer from 50 to 45. This change has already had a positive effect.

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Two recent studies from the American Cancer Society, published in the medical journal JAMA, show that this new guideline is helping catch cancer earlier. The first study found that the number of adults ages 45 to 49 getting screened jumped from about 20% in 2019 to nearly 34% in 2023. The second study found that early-stage diagnoses in this age group increased by 50% in just one year. This means that a lot of these cancers are being found when they are easier to treat and before they become life-threatening.

What Are The Symptoms of Colon Cancer?

Even with the new screening age, many people who are diagnosed with colorectal cancer are still too young to be eligible for screening. This is why it's so important for everyone—regardless of age—to know the warning signs and talk to a doctor about any unusual changes. The most common symptom for younger people is rectal bleeding. Other key symptoms to watch for include:

• A lasting change in bowel habits or the shape of your stool
• Stomach cramps or pain
• A loss of appetite or unexplained weight loss
• Unexplained weight loss or fatigue

Pencil Thin Stool – Symptom or Myth?

However, this idea is largely a myth. It started in the late 1800s, and while it was dismissed by experts in the mid-1900s due to a lack of evidence, it somehow found its way back into medical textbooks.

A 2009 study published in the Digestive Diseases and Sciences journal explained that thin stool is usually just a sign of diarrhea. Because diarrhea is much more common than colon cancer, a change in stool size alone isn't a reliable warning sign. Sending patients for a colonoscopy based only on this one symptom isn't necessary. It causes patients to go through an uncomfortable and risky procedure they don't need, and it puts a strain on our healthcare system.

Instead of focusing on stool size, it's more important to watch for other, more authentic symptoms of colorectal cancer, such as the ones mentioned above. If you have these symptoms, you should talk to your doctor.

How Is Colon Cancer In Men Different Than Men?

While colorectal cancer is a serious health issue for everyone, a 2015 review in World Journal of Gastroenterology shows that women over the age of 65 have a higher death rate and a lower chance of survival compared to men of the same age. This suggests that the way we approach this cancer needs to be different for women. There are several important reasons why women might have a tougher time with colorectal cancer:

Tumor Location

Women are more likely to get cancer on the right side of the colon, which is often a more aggressive type of tumor. Standard screening tests may not be as effective at finding these tumors early.

Anatomy and Screening

The unique anatomy of the female colon can sometimes make colonoscopies more difficult, potentially leading to missed or delayed diagnoses. Additionally, social and cultural factors can sometimes cause women to put off screening appointments.

Treatment and Prevention

Men and women's bodies can react differently to the same cancer treatments. Some drugs can cause side effects that are specific to the female reproductive system. Also, most studies on dietary risk factors don't consider how a man's diet might affect him differently than a woman's.

Nipah virus outbreak in India has led to nearly 100 people being quarantined. The first two cases identified in the eastern state of West Bengal in two nurses working in the private hospital in Barasat, near the state's capital Kolkata, has led to more testing. New cases, including a doctor, a nurse and a health staff member was confirmed and reported by the news wire agency PTI.

People with latest infections were admitted to the infectious disease hospital in Beleghata, whereas the earliest two people are still admitted in the Intensive Care Unit at a private hospital. Reports noted that the condition of the male nurse is improving, however, the woman nurse remains to be in a critical condition.

India is facing Nipah virus cases and contagion every year now. Experts are now cautioning people against the zoonotic nature of the viral infection. Rajeev Jayavedan, the former president of Indian Medical Association, Cochin, told The Independent, that infection among humans are rare and caused by the accidental spillover due to human-bat interface, which means consumption of fruits that may have been infected by bats. “This is more likely in rural and forest-adjacent areas where agricultural practices increase contact between humans and fruit bats searching for food,” he said.

Health and Me previously reported on how doctors are now advising people to be cautious while eating food. Speaking to TOI, Dr Aishwarya R, Consultant, Infectious Diseases at Aster RV Hospital advised people against eating certain food, including fruits fallen from trees, unpasteurized date palm sap and any other fruits without washing. The doctor explained that this infection can spread with infected animal who could bite fruits and spread the virus through their saliva.

Read: Nipah Virus India: 100 People Quarantined, Doctor Issues Food Warnings

Nipah Virus Tested In West Bengal Bats

A survey conducted on bats in West Bengal found no active Nipah virus infection. Though there were antibodies detected in one specimen, which indicated prior exposure. This was confirmed by a senior state forest department official on Tuesday. The survey was conducted amid the identification of two confirmed Nipah virus cases.

What Is Nipah Virus?

As per the World Health Organization (WHO), Nipah virus infection is a zoonotic illness that is transmitted to people from animals, and can also be transmitted through contaminated food or directly from person to person.

In infected people, it causes a range of illnesses from asymptomatic (subclinical) infection to acute respiratory illness and fatal encephalitis. The virus can also cause severe disease in animals such as pigs, resulting in significant economic losses for farmers.

Although Nipah virus has caused only a few known outbreaks in Asia, it infects a wide range of animals and causes severe disease and death in people.

During the first recognized outbreak in Malaysia, which also affected Singapore, most human infections resulted from direct contact with sick pigs or their contaminated tissues. Transmission is thought to have occurred via unprotected exposure to secretions from the pigs, or unprotected contact with the tissue of a sick animal.

In subsequent outbreaks in Bangladesh and India, consumption of fruits or fruit products (such as raw date palm juice) contaminated with urine or saliva from infected fruit bats was the most likely source of infection.

Human-to-human transmission of Nipah virus has also been reported among family and care givers of infected patients.

Read: Doctor Debunks Five Myths Around Nipah Virus

Nipah Virus Symptoms

• Fever
• Headache
• Breathing difficulties
• Cough and sore throat
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Muscle pain and severe weakness

Pharmacies across Britain are reporting serious shortages of a widely used medication, raising concerns that patients could face a higher risk of heart attacks and strokes. Pharmacists have described the situation as “madness,” warning that current NHS prescribing rules are stopping them from switching patients to suitable blood-thinning alternatives when aspirin is unavailable.

While aspirin is commonly taken as a pain reliever, it is also prescribed as a blood thinner. Around one-third of women and nearly 45 percent of men over the age of 65 rely on it as part of their daily medication routine.

Aspirin Shortage Hits UK Pharmacies

A new survey conducted by the National Pharmacy Association (NPA), involving 540 community pharmacies across the UK, found that 86 percent are currently unable to supply aspirin. The shortage appears to be most severe for the low-dose 75mg tablets, although pharmacists report that all strengths are affected. Several pharmacies have also stopped selling aspirin over the counter due to limited stock.

As per The Independent, Olivier Picard, chair of the NPA, said pharmacists are deeply concerned about their inability to order sufficient supplies and the impact this could have on patients who depend on the drug. Low-dose aspirin, particularly the 75mg dose, is commonly prescribed for its antiplatelet effect, which helps prevent the formation of blood clots and lowers the risk of heart attacks and strokes.

Who Is Prescribed Aspirin?

Doctors often prescribe aspirin to people who have previously suffered a heart attack or stroke, experienced a transient ischaemic attack, or have conditions such as angina or peripheral arterial disease (PAD). It may also be recommended after certain types of surgery to reduce the risk of clotting.

Aspirin: Why Is UK Facing A Shortage?

The NPA is urging the government to reform prescribing regulations that currently prevent pharmacists from offering safe alternatives when the prescribed medicine is unavailable. Mr Picard said pharmacists have long argued for the ability to make appropriate substitutions in these situations.

He added that forcing patients to return to their GP for a revised prescription when an alternative drug is already available is not only frustrating but potentially dangerous. Delays or interruptions in treatment could lead patients to miss vital medication, increasing risks to their health.

Aspirin Added To Export Ban List

In response to the ongoing issue, the Government has added aspirin to its export ban list in an attempt to safeguard supplies for patients in the UK.

The NPA also said pharmacists have been forced to tightly ration the remaining stock, prioritising patients with the most urgent heart conditions or those requiring emergency prescriptions.

According to the Independent Pharmacies Association, international manufacturing delays and wider supply chain disruptions are key reasons behind the shortage. The organisation also pointed to low prices negotiated by the NHS, which can make the UK a lower priority for pharmaceutical manufacturers when stock is limited.

Dr Leyla Hannbeck, chief executive of the Independent Pharmacies Association, said it is deeply concerning to see shortages affecting essential medicines such as aspirin and blood pressure treatments. She explained that while manufacturing delays play a role, pharmacies are also struggling because they cannot order the quantities they need.

She added that low reimbursement rates mean manufacturers often prioritise other countries, leaving the UK at the back of the queue. In the meantime, patients affected by shortages are advised to speak to their local pharmacist, who can offer guidance on suitable alternatives where available.

Aspirin Rising Prices Add Pressure On Pharmacies

The shortage has also led to sharp price increases in pharmacies that have managed to secure supplies. The NPA said the cost of a packet of 75mg dispersible aspirin tablets has risen from 18p earlier last year to £3.90 this month.

However, the NHS reimbursement rate remains at £2.18 per packet, meaning pharmacies lose an average of £1.72 every time the medication is dispensed. Mr Picard said this is yet another sign of a pharmacy contract system that urgently needs reform.

Actor Shreyas Talpade recalls that during a shoot for Single Salma in Lucknow, he felt unusually drained after an intense action sequence. In an interview with the Times of India, he revealed, along with the fatigue, there was an odd sensation in his throat, something he had never experienced before. He sat down briefly, brushed it aside, and convinced himself that he was fine.

Yet, something did not sit right with him. Concerned, Shreyas decided to consult a doctor. He underwent an ECG and a 2D echo, and both reports came back normal. While he did not completely ignore what his body was telling him, he also did not probe further. He assumed the medical reports meant there was nothing to worry about.

Months later, in December 2023, Shreyas Talpade suffered a major cardiac episode, an experience that would alter his life in ways he never imagined.

Shreyas Talpade Had No Classic Risk Factors, Yet He Suffered a Heart Attack

Shreyas was only in his mid-40s when the incident occurred, but it changed him both physically and emotionally.

Physically, he now follows lifelong precautions to ensure such an episode does not recur. Regular medication, scheduled follow-ups, routine checkups, and strict adherence to medical advice have become a permanent part of his life.

Emotionally, the impact was even more intense. Shreyas points out that he had none of the four common risk factors associated with heart attacks. He did not smoke or drink. He was neither diabetic nor hypertensive. And yet, the cardiac episode happened.

Shreyas Talpade’s Five Mantras For Heart Health

• Listen to your body: If something feels unusual, do not delay or dismiss it.
• Get tested early: The sooner you detect a problem, the faster you can respond.
• Stay consistent: Fixed timings for meals, medicines, and sleep are essential. A healthy life depends on routine, not randomness.
• Rest adequately: Seven to eight hours of uninterrupted sleep is non-negotiable. It plays a vital role in healing and recovery.
• Monitor your heart regularly: ECGs, 2D echo tests, stress tests, and calcium score screenings can save lives. Prevention is always better than cure.
• Manage stress: Stress is unavoidable, but learning to manage it is crucial. Focus on what you can control and let go of the rest.

Shreyas believes that while life brings uncertainty, many aspects of health remain within our control. After an experience like his, priorities naturally shift. Family becomes the top priority, and staying healthy becomes essential to spend meaningful time with loved ones. That, he says, means sleeping well, exercising four to five times a week, and eating nutritious meals on time.

Heart Attack: Why Timely Meals Matter More Than Extreme Diets

He stresses that while nutritious food is important, eating at regular times is even more critical. Maintaining fixed meal schedules helps the body function better. Having dinner early allows the digestive system enough time to rest. Even the healthiest food, he notes, loses its benefit if meal timings are irregular.

His earlier discipline with clean eating and regular workouts played a significant role in his recovery. Shreyas also believes that post-pandemic health changes and the Covid vaccine may have triggered complications, but his active lifestyle helped him bounce back faster.

According to him, proper nutrition, regular exercise, quality sleep, and balance strengthen the body. Without these habits, the outcome could have been very different. He firmly believes the body responds to the care it receives.

Learning To Handle Stress And Let Go

Shreyas acknowledges that stress is an unavoidable part of life. However, he believes learning how to manage it is essential.

Over time, he has realised that not everything lies within one’s control. Letting go of what cannot be changed is just as important as addressing what can be managed. Wisdom often comes with age, but when someone shares their experiences, he feels it is important to listen.

His message is clear: do not wait for a personal crisis to learn lessons the hard way.