What’s behind rising rates of colon cancer in younger adults

Stop me if you've heard this one before, but there's a certain kind of rote joke employed by comedians (usually those in or approaching the screening age range of 45+) that starts with a trip to the doctor for a routine colonoscopy.

Whatever the punchline, the awkwardness of the situation is sure to deliver some laughs-and possibly the nervous realization that you might be overdue for an examination yourself.

Colonoscopies are the butt of countless hacky jokes, but they're also among the most in-demand, priciest outpatient procedures and they're critical for detecting cancers of the colon and rectum in their early stages, when the disease is most treatable.

Colorectal cancers are among the most commonly diagnosed cancer types as well as the most common causes of cancer-related deaths, according to the American Cancer Society.

Cancers of the colon and rectum are often thought of as diseases that primarily affect older adults. However, the demographic prevalence of these cancers is shifting as adults under 50 are being diagnosed more often.

These changing statistics are causing oncologists and researchers to rethink standard strategies for prevention and treatment, with potential repercussions for life science developers and other healthcare industry players.

In this blog, we'll look at the alarming rise of colon cancer in younger adults, what may be behind the trend, and how healthcare professionals are responding to this emerging public health challenge.

Are more younger adults being diagnosed with colon cancer?

In the minds of many younger adults, colon cancers are something for older folks to worry about. After all, for decades the medical community advised patients to receive annual preventive colonoscopies starting at age 50.

But in 2021, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force and the U.S. Multisociety Task Force on Colorectal Cancer issued joint recommendations for most Americans to be screened starting at age 45.

Both hard data and doctors' anecdotal observations back up the earlier detection recommendation: The American Cancer Society reported last year that colon cancer diagnoses among patients under age 55 had nearly doubled from 11% in 1995 to 20% in 2023.

Market Intelligence built from procedure claims data on Definitive Healthcare's Populi platform seem to reflect this growth too. In early 2018, patients in the 19-44 age bracket received 6.4% of all colorectal cancer procedures. Over the same period in 2024, that age group received 8.5% of all colorectal cancer procedures.

Data from the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program suggests that other gastrointestinal cancers are also rising among younger adults, particularly those affecting the appendix, bile duct, and pancreas. Of the non-GI cancers, breast cancer is the fastest growing among people under 50.

The data is pretty clear: cancer is being diagnosed in younger adults more often today than it was 30 years ago. But what's behind the trend?

What's driving colon cancer in younger adults?

The disappointing truth is that no one has a definitive answer about the rise of colorectal cancers in younger people. But scientists and healthcare professionals have a few good ideas.

Lifestyle factors like poor diet, lack of exercise, and smoking are all associated with a risk of colorectal cancer. Some research suggests that while younger generations are more aware of the benefits of healthy eating, their diets are not much better than those of young people living decades ago.

A Pew Research Center poll showed that Americans in 2010 ate more fats, oils, and corn-derived sweeteners than their peers in 1970. The same poll found that Americans today also eat more processed and calorie-dense foods, which are associated with rising obesity rates. Obesity, in turn, is associated with a greater risk of colorectal and other GI cancers.

Another factor to consider is the growing prevalence of colon cancer detection methods. As patients are advised to receive colonoscopies earlier, some of the growth of colon cancer in younger adults could be attributed to earlier detection.

In September 2023, the Food and Drug Administration cleared for use an over-the-counter, at-home colorectal cancer test that enables consumers to get a noninvasive screening without leaving the house. These tools could help people detect the presence of cancer earlier, potentially contributing to rising diagnoses in younger adults.

What do healthcare professionals have to say?

As colon cancer is being diagnosed in younger and younger patients, healthcare professionals' advice remains pretty standard: If you're concerned about any unusual goings-on in your behind, get yourself to the doctor for a proper screening no matter what your age.

"If anyone has any change in their bowel habits, if they have any bleeding-even if they think it's a hemorrhoid, and it doesn't go away-just get a colonoscopy," said Vikram Reddy, MD, PhD, a Yale Medicine surgeon who conducted one of the first studies on colon cancer in younger adults, in an article published by Yale Medicine.

Earlier colon cancer diagnoses mean communities-especially those that skew younger-need greater public education around the symptoms and risk factors associated with the disease. The American Cancer Society says people who never completed high school, are uninsured, or who have recently immigrated to the U.S. are also underrepresented in screening data. Broader public health education efforts could help direct these individuals to the preventive care they need.

What else do we know about younger adults with colon cancer?

When you're looking for population- and market-level intelligence on healthcare patients, you need the right tools and a little insider expertise (please, no colonoscopy jokes).

Our Populi Population Intelligence provides dashboards containing market and population insights on numerous disease states, service lines, providers, and patient cohorts.

For instance, Populi reveals the top service lines used by colorectal cancer patients aged 19-44 (laboratory, pharmacy, and oncology) as well as the sub-service line procedures ordered (orthotic devices, CT scans, and contrast media). You can also use Populi to review leading providers, geographic distributions, and other critical factors related to your target patient base.

Want to learn more? Get started today with a demo, and get a 360-degree view of your market.

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