Why are more young adults dying from colon cancer?
Trends in early onset colorectal cancer–related mortality among adults in the United States from 1999-2020.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Hispanic mortality increased at 4% annually from 2012–2020, despite having the lowest baseline rate.
It’s counterintuitive that a group with the lowest initial death rate would have the fastest rise—suggesting a delayed or unrecognized crisis.
Practical Takeaways
If you're under 50 and have family history or symptoms like rectal bleeding, abdominal pain, or unexplained weight loss, ask your doctor about a colonoscopy—even if you're young.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Hispanic mortality increased at 4% annually from 2012–2020, despite having the lowest baseline rate.
It’s counterintuitive that a group with the lowest initial death rate would have the fastest rise—suggesting a delayed or unrecognized crisis.
Practical Takeaways
If you're under 50 and have family history or symptoms like rectal bleeding, abdominal pain, or unexplained weight loss, ask your doctor about a colonoscopy—even if you're young.
Publication
Journal
Journal of Clinical Oncology
Year
2025
Authors
Yousaf Zafar, Adnan Zafar, A. Iqbal, M. Rizwan, Laila Manzoor
Related Content
Claims (6)
In the United States, the number of people under age 50 diagnosed with colorectal cancer has risen significantly since the 1990s, from about 8.6 to 12.9 cases per 100,000 people.
Between 2012 and 2020, the number of deaths from colorectal cancer in young U.S. Hispanic adults rose by 4% each year, more than in any other racial group studied.
In the U.S., people in several Southern states are dying from colorectal cancer at a rate about twice as high as in the states with the lowest rates, after accounting for differences in age distribution.
Between 1999 and 2020, the number of deaths from colorectal cancer among U.S. adults aged 25 to 44 rose slightly, from 2.1 to 2.6 deaths per 10,000 people, after accounting for changes in age distribution.
In the United States, men between the ages of 25 and 44 died from early-onset colorectal cancer at a higher rate than women in 2020, with 2.6 deaths per 10,000 men compared to 2.0 per 10,000 women.