Colorectal Cancer Characteristics Among Racial Minorities in the South Bronx: A 10-Year Retrospective Study at a Single Health Center

Background Colon cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide. The incidence of colorectal cancer has increased with time. Over the last several decades, people of color and racial minorities living in the South Bronx, the poorest congressional district in the United States, have suffered worse health outcomes than their White counterparts on virtually every health indicator. Aim To review the characteristics of patients belonging to racial and ethnic minorities diagnosed with colon cancer at the age of less than 50 and compare it to those who develop colorectal cancer more than or equal to the age of 50 years from a single health center in the South Bronx region. Methods We conducted a single-center, retrospective, observational study of patients who were followed from July 2011 to June 2021 at Bronx Care Health System. Patients aged 18 years and older who were diagnosed with colorectal cancer in our health system were included in the study. Patients younger than 18 years of age, who were pregnant, or who were diagnosed with colorectal cancer at other institutions were excluded. Results A total of 159 patients were included in the study. Gastrointestinal bleeding was the most common clinical presentation in 41 patients (25.8%), while iron deficiency anemia was the most common laboratory finding in 25 patients (15.7%). Sigmoid colon in 42 (26.4%) and ascending colon in 41 (25.8%) patients were the two most common locations of diagnosed colorectal cancers, and about 77 (48.4%) of the patients had stage 3 or 4 colorectal cancer at the time of diagnosis. The result of our study highlights the importance of getting a colonoscopy for colon cancer screening done at the age of 45 years. Sigmoid and ascending colon were found to be the two most common locations of colorectal cancer in our patient population. Most of the patients who present with colon cancer at an early age present at an advanced stage. Close to 63 of the total 159 (39.6%) patients who were diagnosed with colorectal cancer had missed or declined their initial screening colonoscopy when offered. Conclusion Colon cancer is a common but mostly preventable disease, especially in people who are within the recommended age for screening colonoscopies. While gastrointestinal bleeding and anemia are generally the most common symptoms, we have observed that younger patients with colorectal cancer often show signs of weight loss and are typically diagnosed at more advanced stages when they seek medical care.