Overview

• Researchers reporting in JAMA Internal Medicine find diagnoses in adults under 50 have roughly doubled since the 1990s, while combined mortality for the eight fastest-rising cancers has remained about flat at 5.9 deaths per 100,000.
• Colorectal and uterine cancer death rates have increased over time even as mortality for several other early-onset cancers has fallen or stayed level, underscoring divergent trends by cancer type.
• A University of Louisville study presented at the American College of Surgeons meeting found rectal bleeding was associated with an 8.5-fold higher odds of colorectal cancer in patients under 50, with most cases lacking a family history.
• Lower screening ages and broader testing — such as colorectal screening starting at 45 and more intensive breast imaging — are likely identifying more cases, prompting debate over overdiagnosis versus true rises in clinically significant disease.
• Experts continue to investigate contributors including obesity, alcohol use, processed diets and microplastics, as clinicians emphasize symptom recognition and targeted evaluation for high-risk presentations.