Early onset colorectal cancer describes a diagnosis of colorectal cancer in adults under 50. Previously considered a disease of older age, colorectal cancer is rising globally at an alarming rate in younger adults, with a 1.4% annual increase in incidence reported.

Evidence suggests that in many areas colorectal cancer is increasingTrusted Source in younger adults faster than older adults, and roughly 1 in 5Trusted Source diagnoses occurs in someone under the age of 55. Research also highlights that colorectal cancer is now the leading causeTrusted Source of cancer-related death among males and females under age 50.

While the incidence of early onset colorectal cancer rises, the drivers of this trend remain poorly understood. Previous research has suggested the potential role of the exposome. This term refers to all the exposures a person experiences throughout their life and how those exposures affect their health.