Colorectal cancer rates appear to be increasing in the U.S. among the younger population, according to a recent report from the American Cancer Society.

Colorectal cancer (CRC), also known as colon cancer, is a disease in which cells in the colon grow out of control, similar to other forms of cancer in different parts of the body.

It is the “third most commonly diagnosed cancer and the third leading cause of cancer death in both men and women in the U.S.,” according to the American Cancer Society. It is surpassed only by breast cancer and lung cancer.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 142,462 CRC cases in the United States in 2019. The American Cancer Society predicted that more than 153,000 people in the United States would be diagnosed with colorectal cancer in 2023, and more than 52,000 would die from the disease.

By way of comparison, the National Cancer Institute projected that over 238,000 people would be diagnosed with lung cancer and over 300,000 with breast cancer in 2023.

The rate of CRC is 33% higher in men than in women, which the report attributes to differences in risk factor prevalence, including excess body weight, processed meat consumption, and smoking history.

The risk of CRC increases as people age, with the majority of the cases occurring in people over the age of 50, according to Cancer.net. However, the most recent statistics cited in the American Cancer Society report show that incidence rates of CRC in people 65 and older have been declining since 2011. The rates have stabilized in the 50-64-year-old age group but are increasing in people younger than 50.

The study observed that colorectal cancer death rates have risen by 1% annually since 2005 in those younger than 50 and by 0.6% in those between 50 and 54. Colon cancer diagnoses in people younger than 55 have doubled from 11% in 1995 to 20% in 2019.

In addition, the percentage of CRC cases diagnosed in the advanced stages has increased from 52% in the mid-2000s to 60% in 2019.

The report notes that overall rates of diagnosis and death for colorectal cancer have declined over the years due to better detection, treatment, and reduced risk factors. However, the concern remains that rates have risen in the younger population.

“The improvements have slowed, and they’ve slowed because of this opposite trend we’re seeing in young people,” said Kimmie Ng, director of the Young-Onset Colorectal Cancer Center at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, according to the Washington Post. “More and more are getting diagnosed with cancer that might not be curable,” she continued.

“We know rates are increasing in young people, but it’s alarming to see how rapidly the whole patient population is shifting younger, despite shrinking numbers in the overall population,” Rebecca Siegel, lead author of the study, said in a press release. “The trend toward more advanced disease in people of all ages is also surprising and should motivate everyone 45 and older to get screened.”

Dr. Ahmedin Jemal, the study’s senior author, said that further research must be conducted to determine the cause of this new trend.

“We need to invest more in research to uncover the causes of the rising trends and to discover new treatment for advanced-stage diseases to reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with this disease in this young population, who are raising families and supporting other family members,” said Jemal, according to the American Cancer Society press release.

As previously highlighted by The Dallas Express, obesity is a growing problem in the U.S. and is a risk factor for many diseases, including colorectal cancer. Many lifestyle factors that contribute to the risk of CRC — such as an unhealthy diet, insufficient physical activity, and high alcohol consumption — also contribute to the risk of obesity.

The American Cancer Society Colorectal Cancer Facts & Figures 2023-2025 report is available here.