From the news of the death of actor James Van Der Beek to a continuing increase in diagnoses in younger adults, colorectal cancer continues to make headlines for sobering reasons.
As researchers race to figure out what’s driving an uptick in cases of colorectal cancer in adults ages 50 and younger, monitoring for symptoms and following screening guidelines remain critical steps for people to follow.
To get additional guidance, we checked in with a pair of experts. Dr. Joseph Bovi is a Radiation Oncologist and Physician Chief of ThedaCare Cancer Care, and Dr. Maria Rossi is a Family Medicine Physician with ThedaCare Physicians-Menasha.
Latest News
Before diving into frequently asked questions, here’s a look at the latest news.
Screening Adherence
Nearly five years after leading health groups united to recommend a younger screening age for colorectal cancer, rates of the disease in younger adults continue to increase.
In 2018, the American Cancer Society (ACS) began recommending colorectal cancer screening for all adults of average risk starting at age 45, down from the previous recommendation of age 50. In May 2021, other major groups, including the United States Preventive Services Taskforce, adopted the same recommendation.
Despite the guideline change, the ACS states that approximately one in three adults of eligible age are not getting screened. Wisconsin has a colorectal screening rate of 73.4%, compared to 67.3% nationally. That percentage, however, lags behind the National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable goal of at least 80%.
Cases in Younger Adults
A recently released ACS study states that colorectal cancer is now the leading cause of cancer deaths among people younger than 50. In the early 1990s, it was the fifth-most-common cause of cancer death among that age group. Since 2023, it’s been the top cause.
The ACS further reports that the incidence of colorectal cancer in adults ages 20 to 49 is increasing 3% per year. That’s at the same time as cases in those 50 and older are decreasing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here, Drs. Bovi and Rossi tackle some commonly asked questions.
Actress Catherine O’Hara recently died at age 71, with rectal cancer as an underlying cause. In February 2026, actor James Van Der Beek died of colon cancer at age 48. What do those two cases illustrate about colorectal cancer trends?
“Catherine O’Hara’s case underscores that this is a diagnosis of an aging population. Most colorectal cancers are diagnosed in patients that are greater than 60 years old, and it shouldn’t cause alarm,” Dr. Bovi says. “What we need to do is increase people’s recognition of the importance of screening. Screening works. Most colorectal cancers can be cured if they’re diagnosed at early stages. That’s exactly what screening is designed to do.”
Van Der Beek’s case shows the opposite end of the spectrum.
“This is an unfortunate trend that we’re seeing,” Dr. Bovi says. “Colorectal cancers are being diagnosed more and more frequently in patients who are younger than 50 years old.”
What are the risk factors for colorectal cancer?
Risk factors include:
- Older age — risk increases after age 50
- Family history
- Genetic syndromes
- History of inflammatory bowel disease
- Obesity
- Sedentary lifestyle
- Diets heavy in red and processed meats and low in fiber
- Smoking
- Excessive alcohol intake
“Many of these risk factors are ones you can influence,” Dr. Bovi says. “Talk with your primary care provider about lifestyle changes you can make.”
How can I prevent colorectal cancer?
“Eat a healthy diet that’s high in fiber, and drink lots of water,” Dr. Rossi says. “Prioritize fruits and vegetable and whole grains.”
Other smart steps include:
- Exercising
- Maintaining a healthy weight
- Drinking alcohol in moderation, if at all
- Quitting smoking
What symptoms should I watch for?
According to ACS, common symptoms include:
- A change in bowel habits — such as diarrhea, constipation or narrowing of the stool — that lasts for more than a few days
- A feeling that you need to have a bowel movement that’s not relieved by having one
- Rectal bleeding with bright red blood
- Blood in the stool, which might make the stool look dark brown or black
- Cramping or abdominal (belly) pain
- Weakness and fatigue
- Unintended weight loss
- Iron-deficiency anemia
Discuss any concerning symptoms with your primary care physician or advanced practice provider. Younger adults included.
“Younger patients who are diagnosed with colorectal cancer can easily overlook those symptoms,” Dr. Bovi says.
What screening options are available?
“There are so many options in this day and age for screening,” Dr. Bovi says. “The tried-and-true regimen is a colonoscopy, which everyone’s heard about. But there are other opportunities for patients as well, like capsule endoscopy, DNA screening of your stool and screening your stool for blood.”
“With your primary care physician, it’s important for you to understand which of those regimens would be the most appropriate for you, and come up with a choice that’s going to fit the appropriate screening guidelines for yourself,” he continues.
Dr. Rossi add that there’s good reason to consider choosing a colonoscopy.
“The colonoscopy is considered the gold standard for colorectal cancer screening because it helps us to identify things that could potentially become cancer,” she says. “And if they’re identified, we can remove them, and we can also prevent it from happening later on in life.”
The colonoscopy prep and procedure can feel intimidating. How can people reassure themselves?
Multiple options often are available for prep, says Dr. Rossi, who both performs colonoscopies and advises patients on colorectal cancer screening, risk and prevention. People who are concerned about the prep process can take with their physician or provider about what options might be available to them.
“Once prep is done, usually patients say it wasn’t that bad,” Dr. Rossi says. “When you undergo the procedure, typically you have medication on board, and you won’t really recall much. You’ll go to sleep and then wake up when it’s done. It’s usually not as scary as people think.”
How can people cope with the fear of a colonoscopy finding cancer?
“That can be a very scary thing with everything in medicine,” Dr. Rossi says. “The reassuring thing is that if there was a small polyp or an early colon cancer that was found, it could be identified and taken care of at that moment to prevent further concerns or further procedures later on.”
If you’re due for a colorectal cancer screening or have symptoms that concern you, talk with your primary care physician or advanced practice provider.
