Colorectal cancer has emerged as the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among Americans under the age of 50, according to a new study conducted by researchers with the American Cancer Society (ACS).
The findings, published in the peer-reviewed Journal of the American Medical Association, reveal a significant shift in cancer mortality trends over the last three decades. While mortality rates for several other deadly cancers—including lung, brain, breast, and leukemia—have declined in younger populations, colorectal cancer has bucked the trend.
According to the study, which analyzed National Cancer Institute data from 1990 to 2023, colorectal cancer jumped from being the fifth most common cause of cancer death for those under 50 in the early 1990s to the first in 2023.
“We weren’t expecting colorectal cancer to rise to this level so quickly, but now it is clear that this can no longer be called an old person’s disease,” said Dr. Ahmedin Jemal, the study’s senior author.
The report highlights a stark contrast in health outcomes. While overall cancer deaths for the under-50 demographic have plummeted by 44 percent since the 1990s due to improved screenings and therapies, colorectal cancer deaths in this group have increased by 1.1 percent per year since 2005.
Potential Drivers of the Increase
Colorectal cancer has emerged as the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among Americans under the age of 50, according to a new study conducted by researchers with the American Cancer Society (ACS).
Researchers are racing to identify the causes behind what Jemal described as a “tsunami of cancer” in generations born since 1950. While the ACS study did not specify definitive reasons, experts suggest that diet, obesity, and sedentary lifestyles may play a role.
Dr. Dana Hayden, a specialist in colon and rectal surgery at UW Health, noted that while lifestyle choices like smoking and drinking are factors, researchers are also investigating genetics and tumor biology.
A separate study published recently in the journal Cancer found a link between long-term, heavy alcohol consumption and increased risk. That research indicated that individuals consuming 14 or more alcoholic beverages per week faced a 25 percent higher risk of colorectal cancer compared to light drinkers.
Screening and Policy In response to the rising rates, medical guidelines for colorectal cancer screenings were recently updated to recommend that initial screenings begin at age 45 for those at average risk.
Advocates say the findings underscore the need for better healthcare access. Lisa A. Lacasse, president of the American Cancer Society Action Network, stated that the research emphasizes the “urgent need to protect and expand access to care” to avoid reversing the progress made against other forms of the disease.
“We cannot afford to turn back the clock now,” Lacasse said.