According to care access platform Kyruus Health, people are interested in learning more about preventative measures year-round when it comes to colon cancer.
Kyruus Health says there was a 65% increase in patients searching the term "colonoscopy" on their patient portal last year. Between 2022 and 2024, they saw a nearly 300% increase. It was the most searched term in that time span, too.
“One of the unfortunate things about the increasing incidence is that more people know someone younger getting colon cancer," said Deepak Vadehra, the director of the Onset Colorectal Cancer Program at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center.
Vadehra is dedicating his career to answering a million-dollar question: Why is colon cancer happening?
“[The] third or fourth patient that I ever saw in practice here at Roswell Park was a 30-year-old who had what, unfortunately, now has become the classic story of 'I [am] having some rectal bleeding,' " Vadehra said.
After delays in care, Vadehra says that young patient was diagnosed with stage four rectal cancer. It’s a common occurrence. It’s thought colon cancer is genetic, but Vadehra says the vast number of patients who are developing early-onset colorectal cancer have sporadic occurrences, meaning that there's no genetic predisposition.
The other reason is environmental factors.
“There was a British paper that implicated maybe antibiotic use is associated with the development," Vadehra said. "We think that the gut microbiome [is] related to diet and what we're eating.”
Vadehra says there are so many questions that need to be answered to find out exactly why studies are showing that by 2030, it’s estimated colon cancer rates in 20- to 34-year-olds will increase by 90% and rectal cancer rates will rise by more than 124%.
“The most concrete answer I can give to that question is the best prevention is early detection," Vadehra said.
Lindsay Riggs, one of Vadehra's patients, is currently fighting cancer.
“I have no family history of colon cancer. And out of the blue, early August 2024, I had a severe pain in my abdomen and I took myself to the ER,” Riggs said.
Riggs says after some tests and antibiotics, nothing seemed to help, so she went into surgery.
“It was discovered that I had a tumor perforate my colon wall,” Riggs said.
The tumor was removed and tested, coming back positive for colon cancer. The mother of three, though, had no other symptoms.
“Honestly, it felt like I was floating outside of my body and it wasn't real,” Riggs said. “As if I was in a dream, a nightmare. And that cold rush that you get in your body. And it was unbelievable.”
Riggs has been sharing her cancer journey on her Instagram account.
“I’m a young mom and wife, and this was shocking. And the rates of colon cancer are increasing at a rapid speed. They don't know why. They're trying to find that out. And it's scary. We need to have the conversations and make some change,” Riggs said.
Riggs says that, if you're undergoing treatment, listen to your body and advocate for yourself.
“Find your people. It can be a cancer group that's with your oncology team where you're getting treatment,” Riggs said. “It can be your village of friends, family.”
“The really unfortunate truth is that unfortunately, no one's too young to get colon cancer,” Vadehra said.
Symptoms include a change in bowel habits either way; abdominal pain; unintended weight loss; more fatigue and blood in your stool. Vadehra says if these last for more than a couple of weeks, you should call your doctor. Early detection is critical, as Vadehra stressed not ignoring symptoms.
During his studies, Vadehra found an increase in all GI cancers, not just colorectal. Healthy people with no other medical history are being diagnosed as young as their early 20s, Vadehra said.
He added that the age for a first colonoscopy was lowered to 45 instead of 50. Vadehra says there is a good chance we will see that change.
