Colorectal cancer is rising in adults under 50, yet too few people in this age group get screened in time to catch it early.
After decades of steady declines, overall colorectal cancer rates have recently leveled off, according to a new 2026 report from the American Cancer Society. Detailing the latest trends, the report noted progress in older adults but concerning patterns in younger generations.
According to the report, rectal cancer incidence has increased by about 1% per year in recent years. At the same time, colorectal cancer deaths in adults under age 50 have been rising by about 1% annually since the mid-2000s.
Isn’t that partially because they only recently changed the recommendation for first colonoscopy from 50 yrs to 45? And people just aren’t aware of it?
My doctor has been asking me if I’ve had one every year since I was 34. I finally went to get one this year (I’m not 40 yet) and probably a good thing because they needed to take some samples for testing. I don’t have any risk factors for that cancer beyond being sedentary
