US Colorectal Cancer Rate Rises to 38.3 per 100,000 for First Time in 20 Years
Updated
Updated · UChicago Medicine · Oct 27
US Colorectal Cancer Rate Rises to 38.3 per 100,000 for First Time in 20 Years
3 articles · Updated · UChicago Medicine · Oct 27
Summary
A NEJM Evidence study found U.S. colorectal cancer incidence climbed to 38.3 per 100,000 in 2023 from 36.7 in 2022, reversing more than two decades of overall decline.
Rates are now rising in nearly every age group up to 65-69, suggesting the increase is no longer confined to younger adults and may reflect a broader birth-cohort risk.
Adults aged 45-49 saw the sharpest jump—up 12.76% annually from 2019 to 2023—likely because screening now starts at 45 instead of 50, catching more cancers earlier.
COVID-era screening disruptions do not appear to explain the trend: the increase persisted even after excluding 2020-2021 data, and screening had largely returned to pre-pandemic levels by January 2021.
Researchers said unknown risk factors may be offsetting screening gains in older adults, raising concern that continued increases could strain U.S. treatment and survivorship care; current guidelines still recommend regular screening from ages 45 to 75.