A rare cancer is surging in young people, and experts are baffled. Early-onset colorectal cancer — diagnosed before age 50 — has tripled in incidence since 1990 in several countries, including the United States and the United Kingdom. This alarming trend is not limited to colorectal cancer; overall early-onset cancers have risen by 79% globally.
This matters right now because if you're under 50, your risk of certain cancers is rising faster than anyone expected — and no one knows exactly why. The rapid increase points to environmental and lifestyle factors rather than genetics, making prevention a top priority.
The Science
A comprehensive analysis published in *BMJ Oncology* examined global cancer incidence trends over three decades. The headline finding: early-onset cancers — those diagnosed before age 50 — have increased by 79% since 1990. But the most alarming spike is in a rare subtype: early-onset colorectal cancer, which has tripled in some countries.
Researchers have ruled out genetic drift as the primary cause. "The change is too rapid to be solely genetic," says lead author Dr. Daniel Huang. This points to environmental and lifestyle factors that have shifted dramatically over the past 30 years — diet, microbiome disruption, obesity, and sedentary behavior are all suspects. Emerging research also implicates early-life antibiotic use, food additives like emulsifiers, and environmental pollutants such as microplastics.
