Two twin sisters, raised in identical environments, suffer radically different medical fates: one develops an aggressive cancer at 21, the other remains unaffected. A specialist offers a troubling explanation that could be relevant to our contemporary lifestyle.
Colorectal cancer in young people: a worrying increase
Long associated with the elderly, colorectal cancer is now showing an alarming increase in those under 50. This global trend is causing serious concern among the medical profession. Dr. Mark Lewis, an oncologist and former patient with this cancer, reveals that one-seventh of his patients for this condition are under 45. A striking statistic .
What factors explain this development? Several hypotheses have been put forward by specialists: genetic predispositions, environmental influences, dietary habits, etc. Among these potential causes, one in particular raises questions: the consumption of antibiotics during childhood.
Antibiotics: a double-edged therapeutic legacy
Since their discovery in the mid-20th century, antibiotics have revolutionized medicine. However, their intensive use could have unsuspected long-term side effects. Dr. Lewis points out that these drugs, by permanently altering the intestinal microbiota in children, could compromise the colon’s natural defense mechanisms.
To better understand, let’s compare our digestive system to a forest ecosystem. Antibiotics act like a forest fire: they destroy harmful species (pathogenic bacteria), but also the beneficial vegetation that maintains the environment’s balance. Years later, this intestinal “depleted soil” could promote the development of serious pathologies, including colorectal tumors.
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