By SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS
NATIONAL — Colorectal cancer was once considered a disease of older age. That is no longer true. Doctors and researchers across the country are sounding alarms about a sharp rise in diagnoses and deaths among people in their 30s and 40s — and the disease has become the No. 1 cancer killer of Americans under 50.
Ohio State University oncologist Dr. Ning Jin told NPR that the trend is unlike anything she saw at the start of her career. “Thirty-plus years ago when I first started, no one — zero number of patients — were in my clinic under the age of 50 with colon cancer,” said Georgetown oncologist Dr. John Marshall. “And now it is almost half of the patients that I see.” Making matters worse, the tumors in younger patients are proving more stubborn to treat. “Even though we treat young patients with more aggressive chemo — more chemo or more surgery — patients’ outcomes are not necessarily better,” Jin said.
Colorectal cancer rates are increasing 3 percent each year for adults under 50, and the American Cancer Society projects about 55,230 deaths from the disease in 2026 alone. Scientists’ leading theory points to disruptions in the gut’s microbiome — the trillions of bacteria that line the digestive tract — possibly triggered by ultra-processed foods, plastics, and chemicals in everyday household products like laundry detergents.
For Black Americans, the risk is even more urgent. Black people are 20 percent more likely to develop colorectal cancer than white Americans, largely due to disparities in screening access. Preventive screenings are not routinely covered by insurance until age 45 — meaning many younger adults at risk have no standard pathway to early detection.
Doctors urge anyone under 45 with symptoms such as unexplained fatigue, abdominal pain, bloating, or changes in bowel habits to speak with their physician immediately and ask about early screening, especially if there is a family history.