Among young adults, rectal cancer deaths are rising faster than colon cancer
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Rectal cancer deaths are rising significantly faster than colon cancer among young Americans; researchers warn that this trend will continue to increase unless a change in treatment is made.
Death rates from rectal cancer among adults ages 20 to 44 are increasing two to three times faster than those from colon cancer, according to a study to be presented at Digestive Disease Week 2026 in Chicago.
For older millennials, particularly those ages 35 to 44, rectal cancer deaths are projected to rise through 2035, the data shows.
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“Colorectal cancer is no longer considered a disease predominantly of older adults,” said lead author Mythili Menon Pathiyil, a gastroenterologist at SUNY Upstate Medical University. “Rectal cancer is becoming a growing problem, especially in young individuals.”
Researchers analyzed death records from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) from 1999 to 2023.
Hispanic adults and those living in Western states experienced the largest increases in rectal cancer deaths. (Getty Images)
Using a machine learning model to predict future trends, the team found that the mortality rate gap between the two types of cancer is widening in every demographic group.
Hispanic adults and those living in Western states experienced the largest increase in rectal cancer deaths, according to the study.
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One of the main concerns raised by the research is the diagnostic delay that young patients often experience.
“Young people are being diagnosed with rectal cancer at increasingly younger ages and often in more advanced, aggressive stages of the disease,” Rachel Gordon, MD, a New York-based colorectal and general surgeon at Episcopal Health Services, told Fox News Digital.
While older adults usually begin treatment within a month of symptoms appearing, it takes an average of seven months for younger adults to move from initial symptoms to treatment. (iStock)
“We see a combination of lifestyle and environmental influences potentially playing a role, including changes in diet and the gut microbiome,” said Gordon, who was not involved in the research.
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Older adults generally tend to begin treatment within a month of the onset of symptoms; however, young adults face an average seven-month delay before being placed in care.
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Pathiyil noted that primary care providers often dismiss red flag symptoms such as rectal bleeding or changes in bowel habits in teens as benign conditions such as hemorrhoids.
Experts say the situation will only get worse over time if we don’t change what we’re doing now. (iStock)
“If something isn’t right or you experience symptoms such as rectal bleeding (bright red or dark), persistent changes in bowel habits (including diarrhea or constipation), tight stools, a feeling of incomplete emptying of the bowels, abdominal pain, unexplained weight loss or fatigue, it is important to contact your doctor immediately,” Gordon advised.
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According to Pathiyl, the findings suggest that current screening strategies may need to be re-evaluated.
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“Our study shows that most of the increase in colorectal cancers is due to rectal cancer,” he added.
“If we don’t change what we’re doing now, it’s probably going to get worse over time.”
