US colorectal cancer rates rose in 2023 across nearly all adult ages, not only the young, analysis finds

Doctors have warned for years about rising colorectal cancer in younger adults. A new analysis reported by Reuters (Health Rounds, 1 November 2026) suggests the increase now reaches nearly all adult age groups in the United States.

What the analysis found

• Researchers led by Caitlin Murphy of the University of Chicago examined National Cancer Institute registry data for all ages up to 70; the results appear in NEJM Evidence.
• Incidence fell from 55.2 per 100,000 in 2000 to 36.7 in 2022, then rose to 38.3 in 2023. “This is the first time that we have seen an increase in the overall rate in more than 20 years,” Murphy said in a statement.
• The steepest rise — 12.76% per year from 2019 to 2023 — was among 45- to 49-year-olds, which the authors attribute largely to more screening after US guidelines lowered the starting age from 50 to 45.
• Screening does not explain the rise overall or in other age groups, the researchers said, pointing to unknown risk factors, possibly environmental.

For context, American Cancer Society data cited by Reuters show incidence among 20- to 49-year-olds rose about 3% a year from 2013 to 2022, and colorectal cancer is now the leading cause of cancer death in that group.

Limitations

This is a descriptive analysis of registry trends: it shows that rates changed but cannot identify causes. A single year’s increase (2022→2023) may partly reflect changes in testing and diagnosis, including catch-up after pandemic-era disruptions — something future data will need to confirm. We relied on Reuters’ summary of the paper. Questions about when to start screening should be discussed with your doctor.