Colorectal Cancer Surges Among Younger Adults

Doctors struggle to understand why this deadly disease is increasingly affecting people under 50

Mar. 31, 2026 at 4:18pm

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A translucent X-ray photograph showing the ghostly, glowing internal structure of a human colon, conceptually illustrating the personal and clinical nature of the colorectal cancer epidemic affecting younger adults.As colorectal cancer cases surge among younger adults, new research aims to uncover the hidden factors driving this alarming trend.Columbia Today

Colorectal cancer, once considered a disease more common in older adults, has now become the top cause of cancer-related deaths in Americans under 50. Doctors and researchers are perplexed by this alarming trend, as they work to uncover the reasons behind the surge in younger patients. The story follows the journey of 48-year-old Jennifer Brooks, who was diagnosed with Stage 4 colorectal cancer, and the ongoing efforts by medical professionals in Missouri to better understand and combat this epidemic.

Why it matters

This shift in colorectal cancer demographics is deeply concerning, as the disease is often caught later in younger patients, making it harder to treat. Experts are racing to determine the root causes, which may include factors like family history, lifestyle, and environmental exposures. Understanding this trend is crucial to developing more effective prevention and early detection strategies to save lives.

The details

Colorectal cancer starts as non-cancerous polyps that can turn malignant over time. Symptoms are often absent in the early stages, leading to later diagnoses. While the overall colorectal cancer death rate has declined in older adults, it has risen by about 1% per year since the mid-2000s for those under 55. Researchers at Washington University Medicine are using advanced techniques like organoid cell cultures to study the unique genetic and growth properties of colorectal cancers in younger patients, in hopes of finding targeted therapies.

  • In May 2021, the United States Preventive Services Task Force lowered the recommended colorectal cancer screening age from 50 to 45 years old.
  • Jennifer Brooks was diagnosed with Stage 4 colorectal cancer in May 2021, just three days after the new screening guidelines were announced.

The players

Jennifer Brooks

A 48-year-old woman diagnosed with Stage 4 colorectal cancer in 2021, despite having no family history of the disease and leading a healthy lifestyle.

Dr. Nick Davidson

Professor and chief of the Division of Gastroenterology at Washington University Medicine, leading research efforts to better understand the surge in younger colorectal cancer patients.

Dr. Jean Wang

Professor of medicine in the Division of Gastroenterology at Washington University Medicine, advocating for increased colorectal cancer screening and early detection.

Naomi Sonneck

Organoid core technical director at Washington University Medicine, responsible for breaking down and culturing cancer cell samples to aid research.

Siteman Cancer Center

One of the largest cancer centers in the country, located in St. Louis, leading multiple research initiatives and community outreach efforts to address colorectal cancer in Missouri.

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What they’re saying

“I was a little out of breath, my heart was racing a little bit, so I was thinking maybe it was perimenopause or menopause. It just didn't seem like anything too bad.”

— Jennifer Brooks

“Honestly, we really don't know. The answer is not one single reason that this is happening, it's multiple.”

— Dr. Nick Davidson, Professor and chief of the Division of Gastroenterology at Washington University Medicine

“Early colon cancer doesn't cause any symptoms at all. Someone can be walking around with a large precancerous growth or even an early colon cancer and not feel anything at all.”

— Dr. Jean Wang, Professor of medicine in the Division of Gastroenterology at Washington University Medicine

“There is something very distinctive about the growth properties of cancers in young people, and we think that that might be a clue to finding targeted vulnerabilities in those cancers.”

— Dr. Nick Davidson, Professor and chief of the Division of Gastroenterology at Washington University Medicine

“I guess maybe I think I could have when I was having those sensitivities, which we talk about all the time, you know, gastro sensitivities or things, I think I did go to see a gastroenterologist at the time, but I don't think there was anything significant.”

— Jennifer Brooks

What’s next

Researchers at Washington University Medicine and Siteman Cancer Center will continue studying cancer cell samples and environmental factors to uncover the reasons behind the surge in colorectal cancer among younger adults. The Vanguard Study, a national initiative to improve early cancer detection, is also underway in Missouri, with a focus on rural communities.

The takeaway

This alarming trend in colorectal cancer highlights the critical importance of regular screening, even for younger adults. While the reasons behind the surge are still not fully understood, early detection remains the best defense against this deadly disease. Increased awareness, research, and community-based initiatives are essential to saving lives and reversing this troubling public health crisis.