The recent death of the 48-year-old actor James Van Der Beek is again highlighting how colorectal cancer is increasingly killing younger people.

Colon cancer often develops silently, making early detection vital. Experts recommend getting your first colonoscopy at age 45, or earlier if you have a family history or risk factors. Regular screenings can detect and remove polyps,

About 20% of colorectal cancer cases are in those 54 and younger, according to a 2025 report. That rate is twice as high as it was in 1995.

About 60% to 70% of people under 50 are diagnosed with more advanced disease, compared with older adults who benefit from routine screening [1]. The five-year survival rate for localized colorectal cancer stands at an encouraging 91%, but plummets to just 16% when the cancer has spread to distant organs [6].

People with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and precancerous colorectal lesions are much more likely to develop colorectal cancer, a new study shows. Led by researchers from NYU Langone Health, the study found that the level of cancer risk depends on the initial grade of the precancerous