In a small clinic in Syracuse, a gastroenterology fellow pulled CDC death records from 1999 to 2023 and saw something disturbing: rectal cancer deaths among adults aged 20 to 44 were rising up to three times faster than colon cancer deaths. This wasn’t just another uptick in cancer statistics — it was a divergence that pointed to a specific, worsening threat for millennials.
The findings, presented at a national gastroenterology meeting in May but not yet peer-reviewed, showed Hispanic adults experiencing the steepest rise in mortality, with no clear explanation for why tumors are increasing or becoming more aggressive. Researchers noted that standard treatments — surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy to the pelvic region — carry risks to bladder, bowel, and sexual function, adding urgency to the need for answers.
Separately, an analysis of over 101,000 colorectal cancer deaths in adults aged 25 to 49 from 1994 to 2023 revealed a stark pattern: the increase was almost entirely concentrated among people without a four-year college degree. For this group, death rates rose from 4 to 5.2 per 100,000, while rates for those with at least a bachelor’s degree remained flat at 2.7 per 100,000. The study, published in JAMA Oncology, marked the first national research to directly link the surge in young adult colorectal cancer deaths to socioeconomic disadvantage.
Experts caution that a college degree itself isn’t protective — rather, it serves as a marker for broader inequities. Those without degrees are more likely to face lower incomes, poorer diets, less physical activity, and reduced access to medical care. As one researcher noted, it’s not surprising that disadvantage correlates with risk, but documenting the connection at this scale transforms suspicion into evidence.
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The American Cancer Society estimates 158,850 new colorectal cancer cases will be diagnosed in the U.S. In 2026, with about 55,230 deaths. Nearly a third of those fatalities will occur in people under 65. For adults under 50, colorectal cancer has become the deadliest cancer, a shift driven by a 1.1% annual increase in mortality since 2005. Yet despite decades of rising rates — up 3% yearly for under-50s since the late 1990s — scientists still lack a unifying explanation for why this generation is bearing the brunt.
Historical parallels offer little comfort. When HIV/AIDS emerged as a leading cause of death in young adults in the 1980s, it too defied uncomplicated explanation at first, exposing gaps in surveillance, stigma, and access to care. Today’s crisis, while biologically distinct, echoes that pattern: a preventable threat growing in silence among those least equipped to fight it.
Symptoms remain subtle and often ignored: rectal bleeding, changes in bowel habits, unexplained weight loss, and persistent abdominal pain. Public health officials stress that screening recommendations exist for a reason — but awareness lags, especially among younger adults who assume they’re too young to be at risk.
Why are rectal cancer deaths rising faster than colon cancer deaths in younger adults?
Researchers have not yet identified why rectal cancer tumors are increasing more rapidly or whether they are becoming more aggressive. The trend is observed in death records, but the biological or environmental drivers remain under investigation.
Does having a college degree lower your risk of colorectal cancer?
No — a degree itself does not confer protection. However, it correlates with factors like higher income, better diet, more exercise, and improved healthcare access, which may reduce risk. The degree serves as a marker for socioeconomic advantages that influence health outcomes.