Colorectal cancer cases among adults under 50 have surged in recent years. Younger patients often overlook key symptoms and lack routine screening, delaying diagnosis.
Actor Chadwick Boseman passed away at 43 last week after a colon cancer diagnosis in 2016 that advanced from stage 3 to stage 4. Sadly, he's far from alone. While the average diagnosis age tops 70 for both men and women, an Italian study published last year highlighted rising cases in those under 50.
This trend is confirmed across multiple studies. "Our patient population is starting to get younger and younger," notes Nilofer Azad, MD, gastrointestinal oncology professor at Johns Hopkins University, in Popular Science. The American Cancer Society projects 18,000 people under 50 diagnosed with colon cancer in 2020.
Adults under 50 typically aren't included in organized screening programs, leading to later-stage diagnoses that are harder to treat. In response, the American Cancer Society recently lowered the recommended screening start age from 50 to 45.
Dr. Azad urges physicians to watch for colorectal cancer signs in younger patients. She explains, "Symptoms such as bloody stools, unexpected weight loss, and prolonged cramps may be overlooked or misdiagnosed as hemorrhoids."
Busy with careers and families, those under 50 often dismiss warning signs. "If you have these symptoms, address them as you would advise your parents to do," Dr. Azad advises.
The reasons behind this rise in young adults remain under investigation. Rising overweight and obesity rates may contribute; a study last year linked over 80,000 annual U.S. cancer cases to poor diet, citing excess processed meats and insufficient whole grains.
Other factors warrant exploration, including the gut microbiota—the trillions of microbes in our colons.
Chadwick Boseman also faced elevated risk as an African American man; studies show this group experiences the highest colorectal cancer rates and earlier diagnoses.
