US Colorectal Cancer Rates Rising Across Nearly All Age Groups, Reversing Decades of Decline

A new study published in NEJM Evidence reveals that colorectal cancer rates are increasing across nearly all age groups in the United States, reversing a two-decade decline. The sharpest increase was observed among adults aged 45–49, with rates rising 12.76% annually from 2019 to 2023. This trend has significant implications for the healthcare system, as it will lead to increased demand for treatment and survivorship care for a growing and aging patient population. Researchers are investigating environmental chemical exposures as a possible cause, as COVID-19 does not explain the rise.