Colorectal Cancer Rates Rising in People under Age 65

(March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month)

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer in both men and women in the U.S., and the second leading cause of cancer-related death, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS). While the disease continues to decline in the United States among older adults, a 2026 report conducted by the ACS show that CRC rates are rising in people under age 65. March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness month. Rural Health, Inc. (RHI) encourages residents age 45 and older to talk with their healthcare provider about their risk for developing CRC and screen as recommended.

In 2026, the ACS estimates that over 158,800 new cases of CRC will be diagnosed, and 55,200 people will die from the disease, including 200 diagnoses each day in people younger than age 65. According to the ACS report, CRC is now the number one cause of cancer-related deaths for adults under age 50.

For those age 20 to 49, the incidence rate is rising by 3% per year and by 0.4% in those age 50 to 64. The only decline recorded was among those age 65 and older at 2.5% per year over the past 10 years.

While there is no definitive reason for the increase of CRC in people under age 65, early diagnosis through CRC screening is essential to survival. CRC screening can be done beginning at age 45 for those with an average risk of developing the disease. People who have a high risk, such as those who have a family history, may be advised to start screening at a younger age.

On-time colonoscopy screening can both prevent cancer by finding pre-cancers that are easily removed and by finding cancer early, before symptoms develop, when they are usually more treatable. Less invasive home-test screening, such as Cologuard or FIT (Fecal Immunochemical Test), helps determine a patient’s risk for having CRC and serve as effective in-between colonoscopy screenings.

In addition to regular screening, risk factors can also play a key role in developing CRC. These include being overweight or obese, lack of physical activity, poor diet, tobacco and alcohol use, age, personal and family history of CRC, and inherited syndromes. During your medical visit, your provider will discuss these with you and recommend screening as needed.

Rural Health, Inc. healthcare providers can help you screen for CRC by offering Cologuard, FIT, Genetic Cancer Testing, and determining your risk factors. To learn more, or to schedule an appointment, call 618-833-4471 or visit www.ruralhealthinc.org. For more information on the American Cancer Society, visit www.cancer.org.

Rural Health, Inc. (RHI) is a not-for-profit organization serving Johnson, Massac, and Union counties in Illinois, designated by the federal government as a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), whose mission is to provide quality services to all patients in need of healthcare while being committed to the overall health and well-being of the underserved.

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