Deaths from rectal cancer are rising rapidly among younger adults, an alarming trend that has scientists working to understand why millennials are being disproportionately affected.
According to a new study led by Mythili Menon Pathiyil, a gastroenterology fellow at SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, New York, the rate of rectal cancer is increasing more than two to three times compared to colon cancer in younger populations. If the current trend continues, rectal cancer deaths could exceed colon cancer deaths by 2035 — a significant shift, as colon cancer is currently the leading cause of cancer death in people under age 50.
The findings, presented at Digestive Disease Week in May 2026, build on earlier research from the American Cancer Society released in March, which showed that rising rectal cancer rates are driving increases in colorectal cancer diagnoses among adults younger than 65. Colorectal cancer rates have been increasing by approximately 3% each year for adults under 50 since the late 1990s.
The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2026, 158,850 new colorectal cancers will be diagnosed in the United States, with about 55,230 deaths from the disease. Nearly a third of those deaths are expected to occur in people under age 65.
Dr. Ben Schlechter, a gastrointestinal medical oncologist at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, described the situation as a medical crisis that should not be ignored, though he was not involved in the new study.
This trend highlights a growing public health concern, as colorectal cancer — which includes both colon and rectal cancers — typically affects older adults but is now appearing at younger ages with increasing frequency. Understanding the causes behind this shift is critical for improving early detection and prevention strategies.
