02/14/2026
Two very personal reasons I want to share this today:
• My first husband died at 40 from colon cancer — *just 40* — when our girls were young and we were building our lives together.
• Across the country, people are seeing similar stories play out in real time with folks who *felt healthy* and *didn’t expect this disease*. ([AP News][1])
According to a *recent AP News article*, colorectal cancer — including colon cancer — is no longer just a disease of older adults. It’s rising among younger men and women and is now **the leading cancer-related cause of death for Americans under 50**. ([AP News][1])
Even though overall colorectal cancer rates have declined in older populations thanks to screening, diagnoses and deaths have **increased year after year among people in their 20s, 30s, and 40s**. ([AP News][1])
That’s alarming — and personal.
Here’s what I need you to know:
👉 **Know your risk factors:** obesity, sedentary lifestyle, diet, smoking, alcohol use, inflammatory bowel disease, family history — these matter. But even *without classic risk factors*, young adults are getting diagnosed. ([AP News][1])
👉 **Screening works:** guidelines now recommend starting routine screening at age 45 for average risk — and earlier if you have family history or symptoms. ([AP News][1])
👉 **Symptoms aren’t always obvious:** blood in the stool, persistent changes in bowel habits, abdominal pain, unexplained weight loss — take them seriously. ([AP News][1])
As a healthcare provider *and* someone who has lived this loss, I can’t stress this enough: **early detection saves lives.** Screening doesn’t feel urgent — until you wish you’d done it sooner.
Please take care of yourself. Get the screenings you’re due. Talk to your provider about your risks. Talk to your family about theirs.
This is not fear-mongering — it’s love in action.
[1]: https://apnews.com/article/7200285f2060145b8369de9ed8db9c17?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Colorectal cancer is rising in younger adults. Here's who is most at risk and symptoms to watch for"
