Preparing Meal in Microwave Oven or Drinking Water of Single-Use Bottles on a Daily Basis May Be Associated with an Increased Risk of Early-Onset Colorectal Cancer

Background: The incidence of early-onset colorectal cancer has been increasing worldwide for 10 years. The reasons why colorectal cancer has recently been touching younger adults are not clarified. Materials and Methods: 17 early-onset colorectal cancer patients treated at two regional oncology centers were requested to fill a dietary questionnaire. Patients were asked to indicate the highest frequency with which they were practicing 12 different dietary habits for at least 3 years preceding the diagnosis of the colorectal cancer, going from daily routine, by weekly, monthly or more rarely routine up to never. Results: 15 patients reported they had been preparing meals in microwave oven and 8 reported they had been drinking water from single-use bottles on a daily basis. 7 patients reported they had been practicing both of these habits. 1 patient did not report the daily practice of any of the proposed habits. Conclusions: These preliminary data suggest that preparing meal in microwave oven or drinking water of single-use bottles on a daily basis may be associated with an increased risk of early-onset colorectal cancer. More extensive socio-anthropologic investigations are required in addition to ongoing in vivo and in vitro biological research to confirm this hypothesis.