Tierra Stone, Staff Writer for MSU Spokesman
It’s not easy getting young people to eat their apples, broccoli and wild rice, but consuming them just might help keep some forms of cancer at bay.
While doctors say a cancer diagnosis can’t always be prevented, adopting a clean and healthy lifestyle regimen, including a diet consisting of vitamins and rich-in-fiber could help colorectal cancer cases from rising among young adults.
According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), about 1 in 25 people will develop colon cancer, but it’s crucial to have a high-fiber diet as it can promote regular bowel movements.
“Adopting a healthy diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and grains and low in red and processed meats, maintaining a healthy weight, staying physically active, avoiding tobacco and moderating alcohol are all associated with a lower colorectal cancer risk,” said Corrine Joshu, epidemiologist and associate professor at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
During the 2025-2026 academic year, The Spokesman will examine the effect of cancer on the Morgan community, from the student body to faculty, staff, administrators and alumni.
Over the past few decades, colorectal cancer has become a major concern for young adults across the country.
The diagnosis of colorectal cancer cases among young adults come as a surprise to health care providers because the disease is typically found in patients over the age of 50.
“We do not know exactly why colorectal cancer rates are rising in adults under 50,” Joshu said in an email interview. “This could be due in part to exposure to established risk factors, like diet, inactivity, and obesity, at earlier ages. It could also be due to novel risk factors that we have not yet identified.”
According to ACS, from 2012 to 2021 the prevalence of colorectal cancer in older adults had dropped by one percent per year. But in younger patients under the age of 50, numbers rose by 2.4 percent annually.
This cancer trend is no longer rare, and indeed, has become quite common. It’s evolved into a life-threatening wave that many college students are trying to avoid while managing the challenges of school and work-life responsibilities.
Colorectal cancer is significant in this age group because as cases increase, it appears the disease is being diagnosed at younger ages, often at later stages with more aggressive tumors. This can lead to long-term issues if symptoms are overlooked.
Warning signs can range from mild to severe rectal bleeding, unexplained weight loss, and fatigue.
“Colorectal cancer can be difficult to diagnose,” said Dr. Kerri Lopez, colorectal surgeon at the University of Maryland Medical Center in an email interview. “If you are having bleeding with bowel movements, unexplained weight loss, new difficulties passing stool, narrower-than-usual stools, or persistent abdominal discomfort, talk to your primary care physician about a referral for a colonoscopy.
Lopez emphasized that surgery can cure colorectal cancer if it’s diagnosed in the early stages.
Regarding these symptoms, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that screening begin at age 45. But for younger patients who are experiencing symptoms, regular screenings are not recommended unless they have a family history and other risk factors.
“People at average risk should start undergoing screening at age 45,” Lopez said. “If you have a first-degree relative or two second-degree relatives diagnosed before 60, you should start at age 40, or 10 years before the age of your youngest affected relative.”
Researchers from the National Cancer Institute say lifestyle aspects including poor diet, smoking and alcohol consumption are among several factors triggering the rise in colorectal cancer cases among young adults.
Although symptoms can vary for each patient, sometimes they don’t show up at all.
Subsequently, not all young adults have the same experience when dealing with colorectal cancer.
Studies have shown that colorectal cancer disproportionately affects Black people 20 percent more than any other racial group.
Researchers identify a combination of structural barriers, including limited access to care, delayed screenings, and socioeconomic factors as the cause of this issue.
“While colorectal cancer incidence and mortality have been decreasing overall among Black Americans, it remains higher than that of White and Hispanic adults,” Joshu said. “Unequal access to care, unequal access to healthy foods, and disproportionate exposure to risk factors may all play a role.”
As colorectal cancer trends continue to increase nationwide, researchers remain dedicated to understanding the root causes of diagnosis among young adults. Joshu said there are “too many things to count” that give her hope for the future of cancer research and successful cancer outcomes.
She continued: “Probably the top of my list—young people taking an active interest in their health and advocating for better access to healthy options and care. These are the voices that will make the most impact on policy, research, and societal norms to ensure a healthier and more equitable future for cancer and other health outcomes.”
If you’d like to share a cancer-related story, whether it’s yours or that of someone you know, email bhm@themsuspokesman.com.