Younger adults confronting colorectal cancer surge From the cover
The big picture
Colorectal cancer incidence rates While the total number of colorectal cases in the U.S. has decreased, new cases among people ages 20-49 has risen.
Due to changes in lifestyle and a greater emphasis on screenings, the overall rate of people in the U.S. who are diagnosed with colon or rectal cancer has dropped each year since the 1980s, according to the American Cancer Society. Despite the overall decrease, colorectal cancer is now the leading cause of cancer deaths in men under 50, and the second-leading cause of cancer deaths in women under 50, according to a 2024 report by the ACS. Dr. Andrew Miller, a surgeon for Texas Colon & Rectal Specialists’ Austin North and Round Rock locations, who also serves as chief of surgery at St. David’s Round Rock Medical Center, said this is a trend that is still being explored. However, it is something medical experts across the board are seeing. “We are catching younger and younger people,” Miller said. “At this point in my practice, probably a third of my patients with colorectal cancer are under the age of 50. We’re not exactly sure why that is … but it is a trend that is startling.” Meanwhile, Texas has one of the lowest rates for colon screenings in the U.S., according to data from the National Cancer Institute—another trend local health experts are hoping to reverse.
Men Women
15 12
Men: +36.6% Women: +32.2%
9 6 0
1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 Year
Average rate of new colon and rectum cancer cases, between 2016-2020, in ages 50 and under.
The lifetime risk of developing colorectal cancer is about 1 in 23 for men and 1 in 25 for women.
Estimated colon & rectum cancer cases in 2024
Estimated colorectal cancer deaths in 2024
Location
Incident rates *
Travis County 7.9 Williamson County 9.0 Texas 8.1 United States 8.7
Men
81,540
28,700
Women 71,270
24,310
Between 2016-2020, Williamson County averaged 38 new colorectal cancer cases in people under 50.
Total
152,810
53,010
SOURCES: AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY, NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE/ COMMUNITY IMPACT
*CASES PER 100,000 POPULATION PER YEAR
A change in bowel habits Blood in or on your stool Diarrhea, constipation or feeling that the bowel does not empty all the way Abdominal pain, aches or cramps that don’t go away Unexplained weight loss Fatigue Vomiting Colorectal cancer warning signs
Put in perspective
Cologuard test, which is a stool DNA test. After the results came back, he was told he needed to get a colonoscopy, which he said gave him pause. “Whenever we were growing up, there were a lot of things that people didn’t talk about,” he said. “[A colonoscopy] was almost a taboo kind of topic, but like anything else, the more you learn about it, the less fearful it is.” In late 2020, Jacobs was told his colonoscopy revealed cancerous polyps. A surgery to remove half of his colon followed. Because the cancer didn’t spread through the wall of his large intestine, Jacobs did not have to undergo chemotherapy. His last two colonoscopies since then have come back cancer-free. Jacobs said he now recognizes the importance of screenings like colonoscopies. He and his wife, Sabra, said they would also like to see greater access to affordable screenings.
Rojas celebrated one year of being cancer free on March 6. However, it did not come without first undergoing multiple surgeries and 12 rounds of chemotherapy. “I’m thankful I was able to do all the rounds; it’s too strong for some people,” she said. “I have some permanent side effects, but I’m still here.” During her chemotherapy, Rojas had a temporary ileostomy, which requires an ostomy bag to collect waste. She said some people liken an ostomy bag to a “death sentence,” but she says it’s nothing to be ashamed of. Rojas now advocates for more screenings and refutes associated stigmas that may cause hesitancy. That is an uneasiness fellow Round Rock resident Donavon Jacobs said he had to overcome. His journey began when his regular physician noticed his white blood cell count was high. However, Jacobs said he was nervous about getting a colonoscopy, so it was recommended he take a
SOURCE: NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE/COMMUNITY IMPACT
“Make [colonoscopies] affordable so people don’t spend years paying it off. A lot of people will never do it and wait until they have cancer before they ever get any kind of treatment.” SABRA JACOBS, ROUND ROCK RESIDENT
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