Colorectal cancer is now the second leading cause of cancer death – and rates are increasing in people under 50.
NEW YORK —
Colon cancer deaths are increasing and patients are getting younger.
According to the National Cancer Institute, colorectal cancer, also known as colon cancer, is now the second leading cause of cancer death, with an estimated 55,230 people expected to die from the disease this year, and the fourth most common type of cancer in both men and women.
It is only behind lung cancer, which remains the leading cause of cancer death in America.
What is colorectal cancer?
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, this type of cancer begins in the lower digestive system, particularly in the colon, or large intestine, and rectum.
Abnormal growths called polyps sometimes form. Over time, polyps can develop into cancer. If detected during screening, polyps can be removed before they become cancerous.
The risk of colon or rectal cancer increases from the age of 45. But research shows rates are increasing among people under 50.
Dr. Cedrek McFadden, a colorectal surgeon at Prisma Health University of South Carolina School of Medicine and medical science advisor to the Colorectal Cancer Alliance, said he has observed the trend in younger patients.
“Despite all the awareness work and screening recommendations, we are still seeing people affected and dying from cancer that is largely preventable. Particularly among young adults, we are seeing that it is now the leading cause of cancer death among people under the age of 50,” McFadden said.
Experts say colon cancer can often be prevented with regular screening. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends colorectal cancer screening in adults ages 45 to 75. Screening options include stool tests, flexible sigmoidoscopy to examine the rectum and lower colon, and a colonoscopy.
The CDC recommends screening before age 45 for people with any of the following:
The National Cancer Institute’s Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program tracks colorectal cancer incidence rates per 100,000 people by age group.
In 2000, the rate among adults 65 and older was 304.7 per 100,000; by 2023, it had been halved, to 154.2. During the same period, the rate among adults under 50 increased 1.8 times, from 6.1 to 11.1 in 2023.
This year, an estimated 158,850 new cases of colon cancer are expected, according to the National Cancer Institute.
McFadden said the reason for the increase in colorectal cases is not yet clear, but discussions have focused on environmental factors.
“It’s where you are and the types of foods that we then put into our bodies and whether those foods have been treated with chemicals or how they’re preserved and how they’re prepared and stored, whether there are, you know, these microplastics or, you know, these things that can influence what happens in our gut, that can also play a role in the formation of these colorectal cancers,” McFadden said.
What are the symptoms of colorectal cancer?
According to the CDC, some of the signs or symptoms of colorectal cancer include:
- A change in bowel habits.
- Blood in or on your stool (stool).
- Diarrhea, constipation, or a feeling that the bowel is not emptying completely.
- Abdominal pain, aches or cramps that do not go away.
- Losing weight and you don’t know why.
- Low levels of iron in your blood (anemia).
The CDC said polyps and colorectal cancer don’t always cause symptoms. The best way to know if you have colorectal cancer is to have regular screening.
“What makes colorectal cancer difficult is that when it is detected at a later stage, it can spread to other parts of your body, including your lungs, including the liver, making it much more difficult to treat,” McFadden said.
Gn Health
