Colorectal cancer is no longer only a concern for older adults. Increasingly, young men and women are affected.

It is now the leading cancer killer for Americans under 50. Recent deaths of “Dawson’s Creek” actor James Van Der Beek, 48, and “Black Panther” star Chadwick Boseman, 43, highlight the risk.

Dr. John Marshall of Georgetown University’s Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center said cases among people in their 20s, 30s, and 40s are rising sharply. He added that early in his career, he rarely saw young patients with this disease.

More than 158,000 cases are expected in the U.S. this year. Overall, colorectal cancer is the second leading cancer killer behind lung cancer, which may claim over 55,000 lives.

Screening has helped older adults, reducing deaths by about 1.5% annually over the past decade. However, younger adults are seeing increasing diagnoses. Since 2005, colorectal cancer deaths in Americans under 50 have risen by 1.1% per year. This year, an estimated 3,890 younger adults may die from the disease.

Risk factors include obesity, lack of exercise, diets high in red or processed meat, smoking, heavy alcohol use, inflammatory bowel disease, and family history. Marshall recommends eating more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains while reducing meat intake. Exercise also improves survival and reduces recurrence in colon cancer patients.

Symptoms of colorectal cancer include blood in stool, rectal bleeding, changes in bowel habits, diarrhea, constipation, narrowing of stool, unintended weight loss, and abdominal cramps. Marshall stressed that early detection greatly improves survival.

Medical guidelines recommend screening at age 45. Higher-risk individuals should start earlier. Screening options include yearly stool tests, colonoscopies every 10 years, and a newer blood test for adults 45 or older.

Experts do not yet know why younger adults are increasingly affected. Marshall suggested changes in gut bacteria and tumor location in the colon may play a role.

Overall, awareness of symptoms and risk factors, along with early screening, remains critical to improving outcomes for younger adults.