By Adetutu Audu

Nigerian medical journalist Oladimeji Ewumi has revealed that while Africa battles infectious diseases and maternal health challenges, gastrointestinal cancer is another quiet danger emerging among its young adults.

In a recent investigative report, Ewumi draws global attention to the alarming rise of gastrointestinal (GI) cancers among young adults — a trend that U.S. experts say demands urgent awareness and early prevention across Africa.

According to him, many people are diagnosed late due to poor access to screening and limited public awareness, leading to worse outcomes than in wealthier countries. He therefore calls for a new focus on prevention and education.

Ewumi, in the recent international feature, explores what global healthcare systems, including those in Africa, can learn from the United States and global cancer experts to stem the tide.

In the MedCentral roundup titled “Unprecedented Onset of GI Cancers in Young Adults,” he explored findings from the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, revealing that people under 50 are increasingly being diagnosed with stomach, colorectal, pancreatic, and esophageal cancers — often at advanced stages.

According to the report, the incidence of early-onset GI cancers is on the rise, with younger patients experiencing equal or worse survival outcomes than older patients. The troubling trend, experts say, may already be emerging in low- and middle-income countries, including Nigeria, where lifestyle changes and limited screening capacity threaten to worsen outcomes.

Dr. Shikha Jain, an oncologist at the University of Illinois Cancer Center in Chicago, told Ewumi that delayed diagnosis remains one of the biggest challenges for younger adults. “These patients often face unique psychosocial burdens,” she said.

While cancer awareness in Nigeria has improved over the years, Ewumi notes that routine screening and risk-based prevention remain underutilized, especially for diseases once thought to affect only older adults. “The Nigerian healthcare community must begin to look at GI cancers not as rare in youth, but as a growing concern that deserves proactive attention,” Ewumi said in a follow-up interview.

The rise in GI cancers has been linked to factors such as obesity, excessive alcohol consumption, processed foods, and physical inactivity — habits that are increasingly common in urban Nigeria.

Dr. Robert Fearn, a gastroenterologist at the University of California, Irvine, highlighted that simple vigilance by doctors could make a major difference. “Doctors should not ignore signs like persistent rectal bleeding, changes in bowel habits, or unexplained anemia in patients,” he said.

Nigerian doctors echo similar sentiments. Dr. Babatope Adebayo, a Lagos-based gastroenterologist, said awareness campaigns and community health outreaches must begin to include young adults. “If someone under 40 complains of persistent abdominal pain or bleeding, don’t dismiss it as an ulcer or hemorrhoid. Order a colonoscopy or refer early. Prevention is cheaper than late treatment,” he said.

The medical writer disclosed that in the U.S., medical societies now recommend colorectal cancer screening from age 40-45 for people with average risk, using tools like colonoscopy or stool-based tests. For Nigeria, oncologists suggest integrating risk-based screening models into the country’s emerging cancer control programs. “We need affordable diagnostic access,” said Dr. Adebayo. “Right now, many Nigerians don’t get screened until symptoms appear, which is often too late.”

Preventive lifestyle counseling remains a key defense against disease. Ewumi’s report quotes Dr. Jain recommending that physicians encourage all patients — especially those in their 20s to 40s — to maintain a healthy weight, avoid tobacco, limit alcohol consumption, eat foods rich in fruits and vegetables, exercise regularly, and go for medical screenings.

These principles are particularly relevant in Nigeria, where urban diets have shifted toward fast foods and sugary beverages. Experts agree that nutrition education and public awareness can play a central role in reversing these patterns.