Deadly diagnosis

No. 1

Colorectal cancer’s ranking as the leading cause of cancer-related death for Americans under age 50, according to new research published in March by the American Cancer Society. The steady rise in diagnoses for younger adults has alarmed cancer experts who have pointed to increased obesity rates and lifestyle factors such as poor diet and physical inactivity as possible causes.

45

The age at which the American Cancer Society now advises screenings begin for people of average risk, down from the recommended age of 50 that prevailed prior to 2021.

158,850

The projected number of Americans who will receive a colorectal cancer diagnosis in 2026, according to the American Cancer Society study, while an estimated 55,230 will die from the disease.

37%

The share of Americans aged 45–49 who have had recommended colorectal cancer screenings like colonoscopies or stool tests, according to the American Cancer Society.