Colorectal cancer is killing more younger adults, with death rates rising in those who are under the age of 50 by more than 1% every year for at least 20 years. The illness has advanced from the fifth most common cause of cancer deaths in the 1990s to the most common in those under the age of 50 in 2023.

“This is really an outlier and really something that needs significant attention,” says Dr. William Dahut, chief scientific officer for the American Cancer Society.

Dahut says there are five warning signs for colorectal cancer that many may miss.

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

He says about half the colorectal cancer deaths in young adults are in those between the ages of 45 and 49. He says screening is lowest in that age group. He says a colonoscopy can find polyps, which can turn into cancer and get rid of them.

"If those polyps are removed, that reduces or can eliminate the risk of cancer from those polyps,” Dahut says.

Dahut says it's still unclear what is causing the rise in colorectal deaths in those under age 50 but says it's probably a combination of environmental and lifestyle causes-- including heavy alcohol use, smoking, obesity and lack of exercise.