Overview

• Incidence of gastrointestinal cancers in adults under 50 has surged worldwide since the mid-1990s, making early-onset colorectal cancer the top killer for U.S. men under 50 and second for women.
• CDC data show a 185% increase in colorectal cancer among 20–24-year-olds and a 333% rise among those aged 15–19.
• Early-onset colorectal cancer rates are significantly higher among Black, Hispanic, Indigenous, and Asian populations than among non-Hispanic whites.
• Younger patients often face delayed diagnoses and advanced-stage detection because symptoms are not initially recognized as cancer, leading to complex treatment and psychosocial strains.
• Experts are pushing to lower screening age below 45, broaden research into obesity, diet, microbiome and other risk factors, and develop prevention and support strategies tailored to young patients.