Overview
- The American Cancer Society study in JAMA reviewed U.S. data from 1990 to 2023 and found colorectal cancer mortality in people under 50 has risen about 1.1% annually since 2005.
- By 2023, colorectal cancer surpassed other malignancies as the leading cause of cancer death in younger Americans, even as overall cancer mortality in this group fell 44% over three decades.
- Researchers report no definitive cause for the increase, and coverage notes that more than three quarters of young cases are diagnosed at advanced stages.
- U.S. guidance recommends starting average-risk colorectal screening at age 45, with a recently FDA-approved blood test reported to broaden diagnostic options.
- In Spain, registries report declining mortality (37.9 to 30.4 per 100,000) and an estimated 44,573 new cases in 2025, with organized biennial immunochemical fecal testing for ages 50–69, confirmatory colonoscopy for positives, and wider use of advanced radiotherapy and neoadjuvant strategies.