A team of researchers in the United States has found that analyzing sewage to detect tumor markers could be a new method for early warning to prevent colorectal cancer. Colorectal cancer affects more than 154,000 people annually in the United States, making it the third most common type of cancer in the country and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths. The reason for this is the delayed diagnosis of the disease. In a study published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, which specializes in epidemiology and public health, researchers reviewed data from colorectal cancer patients at a specialized healthcare center in Jefferson County, Kentucky, from 2021 to 2023. The aim was to identify geographical areas with high incidence rates. The researchers, in comments to the medical research website Medical Express, believe that identifying areas with high rates of colorectal cancer could help authorities develop prevention and awareness strategies and increase screening and early detection programs to reduce the incidence of the disease.
