Colorectal cancer is now the second-leading cause of cancer death — and rates are rising in people under 50.NEW YORK —Colon cancer deaths are rising, 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 for men and women.It trails only lung cancer, which remains the leading cause of cancer deaths in America.What is colorectal cancer?According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, this type of cancer starts in the lower digestive system, particularly the colon, or large intestine, and the rectum.Abnormal growths called polyps sometimes form. Over time, polyps can develop into cancer. If caught during screening, polyps can be removed before they become cancerous. The risk of colon or rectal cancer increases at age 45 and older. But research shows rates are rising among people younger than 50.Dr. Cedrek McFadden, a colorectal surgeon at Prisma Health University of South Carolina School of Medicine and medical science adviser with the Colorectal Cancer Alliance, said he has observed the trend among younger patients.”Despite all of the advocacy work and the screening recommendations, we’re still seeing people being affected and dying from a cancer that is largely preventable. Particularly in the younger adults, we’re finding that it’s now the leading cause of cancer deaths in people under the age of 50,” McFadden said. Experts say colon cancer can often be prevented through regular screening. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends colorectal cancer screening for adults ages 45 to 75. Screening options include stool tests, flexible sigmoidoscopy to examine the rectum and lower portion of the colon, and colonoscopy. The CDC recommends screening before age 45 for people who have either 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 cut in half, to 154.2. Over the same period, the rate among adults under 50 has grown 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 still unclear, but discussions have focused on environmental factors.”It’s where you are and the types of foods that we then are placing into our bodies and whether these foods have processed chemicals or how they’re preserved and how they’re prepared and stored, whether there be, you know, these microplastics or, you know, those things that can influence what’s happening in our gut, that may also have 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 (bowel movement).Diarrhea, constipation, or feeling that the bowel does not empty all the way.Abdominal pain, aches, or cramps that don’t go away.Weight loss and you don’t know why.Low levels of iron in your blood (anemia).The CDC said polyps and colorectal cancer do not always cause symptoms, so the best way to know if you have colorectal cancer is through regular screening.”What makes colorectal cancer challenging is that when found in later stages, it may be spread to other areas of your body, including your lungs, including the liver, and that makes it much more difficult to treat,” McFadden said.
