Colon cancer, long viewed as a disease of older adults, has become the leading cause of cancer death among Americans younger than 50, health experts said on Friday. The trend is underscored by the recent deaths of actors James Van Der Beek, 48, and Chadwick Boseman, 43, both of whom succumbed to the illness.
“We’re now seeing more and more people in the 20‑, 30‑ and 40‑year‑old range developing colon cancer,” said Dr. John Marshall of Georgetown University’s Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, who has practiced oncology for more than three decades and serves as a medical consultant to the Colorectal Cancer Alliance.
The American Cancer Society projects that more than 158,000 cases of colorectal cancer will be diagnosed in the United States in 2026, making it the nation’s second‑leading cancer overall behind lung cancer. The disease is expected to claim over 55,000 lives this year, but among adults under 50, mortality has risen steadily. Since 2005, deaths in that age group have increased by about 1.1% per year, and researchers estimate 3,890 Americans under 50 will die of the disease in 2026.
While the majority of cases still occur in those 50 and older, the younger cohort’s diagnoses have been climbing since the early 2000s. “It’s shaking us all, to be blunt,” Marshall added, noting that the shift challenges current screening guidelines, which recommend the average person begin screening at age 45—often too late for the fastest‑rising age group.
Risk factors at any age include obesity, lack of physical activity, a diet high in red or processed meat and low in fruits and vegetables, smoking, heavy alcohol use, inflammatory bowel disease, and a family history of colorectal cancer. “Eat lots of fruits and vegetables and whole grains,” Marshall urged. “Meat’s not evil, but eat less of it.”
Recent research also suggests lifestyle interventions can improve outcomes. A three‑year exercise program was found to boost survival rates and lower cancer recurrence among colon‑cancer patients, underscoring the value of regular physical activity.
Doctors stress that early detection dramatically improves survival. Symptoms such as blood in the stool, persistent changes in bowel habits, unexplained weight loss, or abdominal cramps should prompt a medical evaluation. “Don’t ignore symptoms. Get it checked,” Marshall warned.
The rise in colorectal cancer among younger adults remains a mystery. Marshall speculated that changes in gut bacteria—the microbiome—might play a role, and noted that tumors in younger patients often appear in different parts of the colon than in older patients, a clue researchers are still investigating.
Public health officials hope that greater awareness of the disease’s shifting demographics will encourage earlier screening and healthier lifestyle choices, potentially reversing the upward trend that now claims the lives of high‑profile figures like Van Der Beek and Boseman.