Why Colorectal Cancers are Increasing in Younger People

Cancer is something most of us associate with aging, but a disturbing new trend is forcing doctors to rethink that assumption. According to a major new report from the American Cancer Society (ACS), colorectal cancer - once considered largely a disease of older adults - is now striking younger people at rates that have experts genuinely alarmed.

What is Colorectal Cancer?
Colorectal cancer is cancer that starts in the colon or the rectum - the final sections of the digestive system. The colon (large intestine) absorbs water and nutrients from digested food, while the rectum stores waste before it leaves the body. Cancer in either location is grouped together under the term "colorectal" because they share many similar characteristics and risk factors. 

Most colorectal cancers begin as small, benign growths called polyps on the inner lining of the colon or rectum. Over time - usually years - some of these polyps can turn cancerous. This is actually why screening is so effective: catching and removing polyps early can prevent cancer from developing in the first place. 

It's the third most commonly diagnosed cancer in both men and women in the U.S., and the second leading cause of cancer-related death overall. As the article we just worked on covers, it's now the number one cancer killer in Americans under 50. 

 The Report 

The report, published in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, found that while colorectal cancer rates in the United States have overall declined by nearly 1% annually between 2013 and 2022, that progress is almost entirely driven by improvements in older age groups. Among adults 65 and older, cases dropped by about 2.5% per year. But for younger generations, the picture looks very different - and very worrying.

The Numbers Are Hard to Ignore 

 Cases among adults aged 50 to 64 have been creeping upward by 0.4% annually. More alarming still, colorectal cancer diagnoses in adults aged 20 to 49 have been rising by roughly 3% every single year. 

The ACS now projects that nearly half of all colorectal cancer diagnoses in 2026 will be in people under the age of 65 - compared to just 27% back in 1995. The ACS estimates there will be around 158,850 new colorectal cancer cases in the United States in 2026 alone. One-third of the expected 55,000 deaths from the disease this year are projected to occur in people younger than 65.

Even more sobering: colorectal cancer is now the leading cause of cancer-related death in Americans under 50, and the second most common cancer-related killer among the general adult population. 

"Despite decades of progress in the fight against cancer, colorectal cancer death rates are increasing among younger men and women," said Nikita Wagle, PhD, a principal scientist in cancer surveillance research at the ACS. "It is important that we intensify research to uncover the causes as well as take action to prevent these deaths."

What's Driving This Rise? 

 Researchers and clinicians who work with colorectal cancer patients every day say the statistics reflect what they're already seeing in their practices. Nilesh Vora, MD, a medical oncologist at the MemorialCare Todd Cancer Institute in Long Beach, California, said the numbers came as no surprise. "It doesn't change the concern I already have about this trend," he said. 

Geoffrey Buckle, MD, a gastrointestinal oncologist at the University of California San Francisco, said the report aligns with what his team sees daily. "We are seeing a growing incidence of colorectal cancer that is indeed alarming. The statistics reflect what we see in our clinics every day." 

More than half of all colorectal cancer cases are linked to modifiable risk factors, according to the ACS. These include smoking, unhealthy diet, high alcohol consumption, physical inactivity, and excess body weight. But experts believe there may be additional forces at work in younger generations specifically. 

Rising obesity rates, sedentary lifestyles, and diets heavy in ultra-processed foods and red meat are widely cited contributors. Some emerging research has pointed to microplastics as another potential factor - younger adults tend to carry higher cumulative levels of microplastics in their bodies, which some scientists believe may be influencing cancer risk. Another theory suggests that DNA-damaging toxins produced by certain strains of the bacteria E. coli could also be playing a role. 

Wagle noted that these newer environmental exposures may be especially significant for younger generations. "Since the late 20th century, there have been many newer exposures, such as ultra-processed food and microplastics, that may influence cancer risk, and to which younger generations have had greater cumulative exposure than older adults," she explained.

A Trend That's Been Building The rise of early-onset colorectal cancer has been gaining attention for several years. The issue came to wide public awareness in August 2020, when actor Chadwick Boseman - beloved for his role in Black Panther - died from colon cancer at just 43. In early 2025, actor James Van Der Beek, best known for his role in Dawson's Creek, passed away from colon cancer at 48. A 2024 study also found that colorectal cancer cases among U.S. teenagers had tripled between 1999 and 2020. Researchers have also confirmed that rectal bleeding is a particularly strong warning sign of early-onset colorectal cancer in adults under 50 - one that should never be dismissed or ignored. Know the Warning Signs One of the biggest challenges with this trend is that many younger adults simply don't consider themselves at risk, leading to delayed diagnoses and worse outcomes. Buckle stressed the importance of awareness. "There is a definitive lack of recognition," he said. 

Doctors urge younger adults to take the following symptoms seriously and seek medical attention promptly if they experience: 

Blood in the stool 

Unexplained weight loss 

Rectal discomfort 

Changes in bowel habits 

Unexplained iron deficiency 

Family history also matters. Adults with a close relative who has had colorectal cancer face a significantly elevated risk and should speak with their doctor about earlier screening. 

When Should You Get Screened? 

In response to these trends, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force revised its guidelines and now recommends that colorectal cancer screening begin at age 45 for most adults - ten years earlier than previous recommendations. Screening options range from a full colonoscopy to convenient, accurate at-home stool-based tests. 

Vora emphasized that screening shouldn't wait for symptoms to appear. "You should get screened on time for colorectal cancer even if you don't have symptoms. And if you have symptoms, seek medical care as soon as possible."

 What You Can Do Starting Today 

The encouraging side of this story is that a significant portion of colorectal cancer risk is within your control. Doctors recommend regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, and building a diet around fresh fruits and vegetables while cutting back on red meat, sugar, and ultra-processed foods. Avoiding smoking and limiting alcohol consumption are also strongly advised. 

 Colorectal cancer no longer follows the old rules about who it affects. Recognizing that it can strike at any age - and acting accordingly - may be the most important thing younger adults can do for their long-term health.

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for food, medicines, exercises and so on.   

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Aspirin and omega-3 safe, lower bowel cancer risk

Intake of aspirin and omega-3 is safe and effective at reducing chances of bowel cancer in high-risk patients, according to a new clinical trial.

In the trial, published in the journal The Lancet, these low-cost drugs reduced the number of pre-cancerous polyps -- a small growth, usually benign -- in patients found to be at high risk of developing bowel cancer.

The findings showed that patients who took aspirin had 22 per cent fewer polyps compared to those who took the placebo.

Those who took omega-3, also called EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) had 9 per cent fewer polyps compared to those who took the placebo.

Although aspirin and EPA had beneficial effects on polyp numbers individually, the combination of aspirin and EPA together appeared to have an even greater effect, as it provided another layer of prevention, alongside colonoscopy, the researchers said.

"The trial demonstrates that both aspirin and EPA have preventative effects, which is particularly exciting given that they are both relatively cheap and safe compounds to give to patients," said Mark Hull, Professor at the University of Leeds in the UK.

In the trial the team included over 700 patients, all of whom had a higher risk of developing bowel cancer after having a colonoscopy.

Participants took either a 300 milligram aspirin tablet, 2 grams EPA in four capsules, a combination of both aspirin and EPA, or placebos only.

The results showed both aspirin and omega-3 reduced the number of bowel polyps in patients one year on from a screening colonoscopy (large bowel camera test).

However, they did not reduce the chances of an individual having any polyps present in the bowel.
Importantly, treatment with aspirin and EPA was safe with no increased bleeding risk.

However, individuals who took EPA on its own had a slight increase in stomach upset symptoms.

Further research is needed to test aspirin and EPA treatment together for polyp prevention, the researchers noted.

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.     

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8 Possible Reasons Why You Can't Smell

Imagine drinking a glass of milk and having no idea it’s gone bad until you’re in the E.R. with food poisoning? Worse yet, imagine leaving the gas in your stove on, and not noticing until it’s too late?

Though not as obviously crucial as sight and hearing, our sense of scent is incredibly important, as it alerts us to potential hazards like those mentioned above as well as wild animals, smoke and more. Beyond that, much of our sense of flavor is actually derived from smelling (taste and pain are the other two senses informing our culinary experience).

Typically speaking, the loss of smell (called anosmia) is the result of nasal congestion and will pass with the cold or allergic response which caused it. However, there may be other factors causing anosmia, some of which quite severe.

The way our sense of scent works is that molecules in the air travel up our nose, about 3 inches behind the nostrils, where they stimulate our olfactory receptors, which then activate sensory neurons, nerve cells found at the roof of the nasal cavity. Damage to the nerves or physical obstacles in the nose that might inhibit this process may cause anosmia.
 

Beyond nasal congestion, possible causes for anosmia are:

 

1. Polyps

Benign, painless non-cancerous growths may obstruct the nasal cavity, stopping particles from reaching the olfactory system. Polyps might be caused by an inflammation of the nasal lining and can be treated with steroids or safely removed via surgery. They are rather common, and affect anywhere between 4-40% of the world's population.

2. Solvents

Long-term inhalation and exposure to solvents like nail polish and turpentine may cause a condition referred to as chronic painters’ syndrome, the symptoms of which include memory loss, loss of cognitive and psychomotor abilities, personality shifts and loss or impairment of color vision and smell.

3. Trauma

Head trauma, such as that caused by facial and skull fractures and concussions, as well as botched surgeries, might cause damage to the nasal cavity or olfactory nerves, causing anosmia. This type of damage might be temporary, lasting up to six months after the fact, or permanent.

4. Drugs

The snorting of drugs like cocaine and methamphetamines, as well as illicit recreational snorting of legal opioids, such as oxycodone, is done with the intent of achieving a more potent and fast-onset high. The resultant damage to the nasal cavity and nerves can cause anosmia, as well as a perforation of the septum (the barrier separating the nostrils).

5. Medicine

Decongestant nasal sprays (such as otrivine) may provide temporary relief to cold-related anosmia, but may trigger long-term loss of smell. Likewise, homeopathic nasal sprays which incorporate zinc may cause anosmia. Some oral medicine, such as nifedipine and aspirin (and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) may also trigger anosmia.

6. Neurodegeneration

Diseases and medical conditions that target the nervous system, such as Parkinson’s, multiple sclerosis and Lewy body dementia (a variant of dementia characterized by abnormal protein bodies developing inside nerve cells) may hamper or cause complete loss of the sense of smell. In these cases, anosmia can be a warning sign of degenerative progression.

7. Radiotherapy

Radiation treatment for cranial or neck cancer may cause anosmia as a side-effect. As unfortunate and unwanted as that may be, it should not be a factor in considering treatment for cancer.

8. Aging

Much like other senses and faculties, one possible symptom of old age can be a declining sense of smell. Among octogenarians, 60%-80% have experienced either partial loss of smell (hyposmia) or total anosmia.

In any case you find you sense of smell has been impaired inexplicably, tell a doctor. A family doctor should be able to diagnose or rule out inflammation or polyps, if those are causing your anosmia.

Treatment

In congestion-caused anosmia, the simplest treatment is taking decongestant drugs, though you should avoid nasal sprays (why? Read above). If the cold or rhinitis have passed and the anosmia still persists, tell a doctor.

If the cause of your anosmia is a polyp in your nasal passage, steroidal spray may shrink or eliminate the polyps. If ineffective, a surgery may be required to remove them and regain the sense of smell.

If your sense of smell is declining and you’re worried that a drug you’re taking might be the cause, consult with your doctor. Do not, however, stop taking prescribed medicine because of a hunch, before hearing a qualified professional's opinion.

Anosmia might be temporary or permanent. In cases where it is untreatable, as in anosmia caused by old age, you might want to make adjustments to your household and lifestyle. Take extra care when consuming perishable goods, read the expiration date and install smoke and gas leak detectors in your house.

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