Bryce Ramsey was 33 when she was diagnosed with colorectal cancer. After noticing blood in her stool, she initially attributed it to hemorrhoids she had developed after giving birth to her son eight years earlier. Ramsey did not initially link her symptoms to cancer, a common delay in diagnosis for many young patients.
According to a 2023 study published in BMJ Oncology, the global incidence of early-onset cancers (diagnosed in adults under 50) increased by 79% between 1990 and 2019. Colorectal cancer is among the most common early-onset cancers, with rising rates in many countries, including the United States, where the American Cancer Society reports that 1 in 5 new colorectal cancer cases now occur in people under 55.
Experts point to lifestyle factors such as diet, obesity, and sedentary behavior as potential contributors, though the exact causes remain under investigation. The American Cancer Society recommends that colorectal cancer screening begin at age 45 for average-risk adults, down from the previous recommendation of 50, due to the rising incidence in younger populations.
