Rectal cancer mortality rates are rising significantly faster than those of colon cancer among younger Americans, with projections indicating a troubling trend that may continue through 2035.
Researchers have found that rectal cancer deaths are increasing at a significantly higher rate than colon cancer among younger Americans, a trend they warn could worsen without changes in treatment approaches. According to a study set to be presented at Digestive Disease Week 2026 in Chicago, mortality rates for rectal cancer are growing two to three times faster than those for colon cancer among adults aged 20 to 44.
The data indicates that older millennials, particularly those between the ages of 35 and 44, may see a continued escalation in rectal cancer mortality through 2035. “Colorectal cancer is no longer considered predominantly a disease of older adults,” said Mythili Menon Pathiyil, the lead author of the study and a gastroenterology fellow at SUNY Upstate Medical University. “Rectal cancer, especially, is becoming a growing problem in younger individuals.”
The researchers analyzed death records from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) spanning from 1999 to 2023. Utilizing a machine learning model to project future trends, the team discovered that the mortality gap between rectal and colon cancer is widening across all demographics. Notably, Hispanic adults and residents of Western states have experienced the steepest increases in rectal cancer deaths.
A primary concern raised by the research is the diagnostic delays often faced by younger patients. “Young people are being diagnosed with rectal cancers at increasingly younger ages — and often at more advanced, aggressive stages of disease,” said Dr. Rachel Gordon, a colorectal and general surgeon based in New York, who was not involved in the study. She emphasized that lifestyle and environmental factors, including diet and changes in the gut microbiome, may contribute to this troubling trend.
Older adults typically begin treatment within a month of experiencing symptoms, while young adults face an average delay of seven months before receiving care. Pathiyil noted that primary care providers often dismiss concerning symptoms in younger patients, such as rectal bleeding or changes in bowel habits, as benign issues like hemorrhoids.
“If something doesn’t feel right, or if you experience symptoms such as rectal bleeding (bright red or dark), persistent changes in bowel habits (including diarrhea or constipation), narrow stools, a feeling of incomplete bowel emptying, abdominal pain, unexplained weight loss, or fatigue, it’s important to see your doctor promptly,” Gordon advised.
The findings suggest that current screening strategies may need to be reevaluated. Pathiyil stated, “Our study shows that rectal cancer is driving much of the increase in colorectal cancers. It’s likely to worsen over time if we don’t change what we are doing right now.”
As the research highlights the alarming rise in rectal cancer mortality among younger Americans, it underscores the urgent need for increased awareness, timely diagnosis, and effective treatment strategies to combat this growing health crisis, according to Fox News.