A diet of too much meat and fat has led to an increase of Shanghai's young adults reporting colorectal cancer, a disease usually found in seniors, today's Youth Daily reported, quoting a doctor.
In the first six months, five patients under the age of 30 have been diagnosed with the cancer at Zhongshan Hospital, Professor Yao Liqing, dean of the hospital's endoscopy center, said.  The youngest patient is a 14-year-old girl.  She died half a year after the diagnosis.
Each year, Zhongshan hospital detects a dozen  colorectal cancer cases among youths, and the total is over 150 in recent years, the professor said.
He blames diets high in meat and fat for the rising cancer reports and encourages young people to take a healthy diet of more vegetables, fruits and grains as well as less meat and fat.
The professor said a stomach ache is usually a main symptom in the early stages of the cancer and advised people to take care of this ailment.
"Most patients diagnosed here are in later stages," he said.  "Young people don't believe they can develop such a cancer and normally overlook the aches.  That has caused delays in diagnosis and proper medical treatment, and resulted in deaths."
Professor Yao advised those who have a family history of colorectal diseases to take more care and receive regular medical checks.