Rectal Cancer Deaths Surge Among Younger Adults, Raising Alarm Among Scientists

By Blessing Nweke

Deaths from rectal cancer are rising sharply among younger adults, a troubling trend that researchers say is outpacing increases in colon cancer and defying easy explanation.

A new study led by Mythili Menon Pathiyil of SUNY Upstate Medical University found that rectal cancer death rates have grown two to three times faster than those of colon cancer among people ages 20 to 44. If the pattern continues, rectal cancer deaths could surpass colon cancer deaths by 2035.

According to the American Cancer Society, an estimated 158,850 colorectal cancer cases will be diagnosed in 2026, with about 55,230 deaths. Nearly a third of those deaths occur in people under 65.

Researchers analyzed data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention spanning 1999 to 2023, finding that early-onset colorectal cancer deaths have steadily increased, with rectal cancer showing the fastest acceleration. Hispanic adults experienced the steepest rise in mortality rates.

Experts say the cause remains unclear. “This is a medical crisis,” said Dr. Ben Schlechter of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, who was not involved in the study. He suggested modern environmental or lifestyle factors may play a role, rather than genetics.

Scientists are investigating possibilities such as microbiome disruption, diet, and early-life exposures, but no single factor has been identified. Many younger patients have no known risk factors.

Symptoms can be subtle, including fatigue, abdominal pain and weight loss, while rectal cancer may present with bleeding or bowel urgency. Delayed diagnosis is common, with younger patients often identified at advanced stages.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends screening beginning at age 45, but doctors urge younger individuals with symptoms to seek evaluation promptly, as early detection significantly improves survival.