Colorectal Cancer Is Now the Leading Cancer Killer of Americans Under 50—Here Are the Warning Signs to Watch For

Colorectal cancer has become the deadliest cancer for American adults under the age of 50, a troubling shift that health experts say demands attention—especially after actor James Van Der Beek died from the disease last week at just 48 years old.

Death rates from colorectal cancer in younger adults have risen by more than one percent every year for over two decades. What was once the fifth most common cause of cancer death for this age group in the early-to-mid 1990s became the most common by 2023.

"This is really an outlier and really something that needs significant attention," said Dr. William Dahut, Chief Scientific Officer at the American Cancer Society. He noted that while deaths from other cancers are declining in young adults, colorectal cancer deaths keep climbing.

There are five warning signs that many people brush off but shouldn't: persistent abdominal pain, rectal bleeding, ongoing diarrhea or constipation, unexplained weight loss, and iron deficiency anemia—which is often caused by hidden blood loss and leads to fatigue and weakness.

"Young people should not ignore any symptom that they find unusual," Dahut said, "and if they see their physician and they're told they're too young to have a problem, they probably need to see somebody else."

About half of colorectal cancer deaths in young adults occur in those between 45 and 49—the same age group with the lowest screening rates. A colonoscopy can detect polyps before they turn cancerous and remove them entirely.

The American Cancer Society recommends that adults begin regular screenings at age 45.