Rectal cancer deaths surge among adults under 45, study finds

A Digestive Disease Week 2026 study finds rectal cancer deaths in adults aged 20–44 rising 2–3 times faster than colon cancer, with mortality projections suggesting the trend could continue through 2035. Most under-50 patients are diagnosed at an advanced stage, and there is an average seven-month delay from symptom onset to treatment, highlighting the need for primary care to investigate early bowel changes in those under 45 and to better understand tumor biology to improve outcomes.