Why are more young adults dying from colon cancer?
Rising Incidence and Mortality of Early-Onset Colorectal Cancer in Young Cohorts Associated with Delayed Diagnosis
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Early-stage colon cancer incidence is declining in young adults, but late-stage is skyrocketing.
People assume better detection means fewer advanced cases—but here, early detection is improving while late-stage cases surge, suggesting a new, aggressive form is emerging or being missed.
Practical Takeaways
If you’re 35–45 and have unexplained fatigue, bloating, or changes in bowel habits, insist on a colonoscopy—even if your doctor says you’re too young.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Early-stage colon cancer incidence is declining in young adults, but late-stage is skyrocketing.
People assume better detection means fewer advanced cases—but here, early detection is improving while late-stage cases surge, suggesting a new, aggressive form is emerging or being missed.
Practical Takeaways
If you’re 35–45 and have unexplained fatigue, bloating, or changes in bowel habits, insist on a colonoscopy—even if your doctor says you’re too young.
Publication
Journal
Cancers
Year
2025
Authors
Yazan Abboud, Anand Shah, Madison Fraser, Eric Montminy, Chun-Wei Pan, Kaveh Hajifathalian, Paul J Gaglio, A. Al-Khazraji
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Claims (6)
In recent years, more early-stage colorectal cancers in younger adults are being detected, likely due to more frequent screening, but the number of advanced-stage cancers in this group is still rising.
Over the last 20 years, the number of new cases of colorectal cancer in people under 50 has roughly doubled compared to earlier rates.
Colorectal cancer is becoming more common and more deadly in people aged 35 to 39, with rates rising by about 1.6% each year. This group, which typically does not undergo routine screening, is seeing the fastest increase in cases and deaths compared to other age groups.
Between 2001 and 2021, colorectal cancer became more common each year in people aged 20 to 44, rising faster than in those aged 45 to 54. The increase was especially steep in cancers located in the upper part of the colon and in cases diagnosed at advanced stages.
Between 2000 and 2022, the number of deaths from colorectal cancer in people aged 20 to 44 rose slightly each year, while death rates in people aged 45 to 54 stayed about the same, suggesting that younger adults are dying from this cancer at a higher rate than before.