Colorectal cancer has been on the rise in young adults for years and is now the leading cause of cancer deaths overall in this age group, according to Yalemedicine. Surgeons who treat the disease are urging people younger than 45—including college students—to talk to their doctors about suspicious symptoms.
Colorectal Cancer Surges Among Young Adults
According to Yalemedicine, warning signs include constipation, rectal bleeding, or sudden changes in bowel movements. Doctors report seeing young patients with a diagnosis of colorectal cancer more often. One practice diagnosed colon cancer in a father of four in his 30s who assumed his rectal bleeding was caused by hemorrhoids. During one single week, all seven patients diagnosed with rectal cancer at the practice were young, with the oldest being 35. The youngest colorectal cancer patient diagnosed at that location in recent months was 18.
Haddon Pantel, MD, a colorectal surgeon, noted that professionals are seeing a clear uptick in colorectal cancer in younger generations.
Rising Rates and Changing Statistics
Statistical tracking highlights the shift in demographics. In early 2023, the American Cancer Society reported that 20% of diagnoses in 2019 occurred in patients under age 55, which was about double the rate recorded in 1995. Furthermore, rates of advanced disease increased by about 3% annually in people younger than 50.
A study published in 2026 in the Journal of the American Medical Association by the American Cancer Society showed that while overall cancer mortality decreased by 44% in people younger than 50 in the United States between 1990 and 2023, colorectal cancer increased by 1.1% each year since 2005. This trajectory shifted the disease from the fifth leading cause of cancer deaths in this age group to the first.
Vikram Reddy, MD, PhD, a colorectal surgeon, conducted one of the first studies identifying the rising incidence of colorectal cancer among young people approximately 15 years ago. Noting that the trend has persisted, Dr. Reddy advises patients that anyone experiencing a change in bowel habits or persistent bleeding—even if they suspect a hemorrhoid—should get a colonoscopy.
Updated Screening Guidelines and Risk Factors
In response to the trend, both the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force and the U.S. Multisociety Task Force on Colorectal Cancer now recommend that most Americans begin screening for colorectal cancer at age 45—five years earlier than previous guidelines—and continue with periodic screenings until age 75.
While the exact cause can often be unknown, studies have linked specific lifestyle and dietary factors to a higher risk of early-onset colon cancer. According to Facebook, these potential risk factors include ultra-processed foods, sugary drinks, red and processed meats, alcohol, and sedentary habits such as sitting and watching TV.
The Personal Toll on Younger Generations
Although colorectal cancer is frequently treatable, a diagnosis presents significant challenges for Generation Z, Millennials, and Generation Xers ranging in age from their mid-20s to their late 50s. The disease can interrupt careers and damage personal finances. Additionally, young patients may need to make quick, critical decisions regarding fertility preservation, such as freezing sperm or eggs in case treatment impacts their ability to have children.
