Rising colorectal cancer rates in younger adults prompt new awareness push

Colorectal cancer rates are rising sharply among adults under 50, a demographic that historically faced lower risk for the disease. The trend has prompted a new awareness campaign, with reporting that includes interviews with young patients diagnosed with the cancer and insights from Dr. Robin Mendelsohn, a gastroenterologist and co-director of the Center for Young Onset Colorectal and Gastrointestinal Cancers. The shift is significant because colorectal cancer was traditionally considered a disease of older age, making early detection and screening in younger populations a growing public health concern. Medical experts are increasingly focused on understanding why younger adults are developing the disease at higher rates and educating patients and physicians about symptoms that warrant screening.