Colorectal cancer statistics, 2026

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second most common cancer-related death in the United States and ranks first in adults younger than 50 years. Every 3 years, the American Cancer Society reports on CRC occurrence based on incidence from population-based cancer registries and mortality from the National Center for Health Statistics. Overall, CRC incidence declined by 0.9% annually during 2013-2022 driven by decreases of 2.5% annually in adults aged 65 years and older. In sharp contrast, incidence rates increased by 3% annually in adults aged 20-49 years and by 0.4% annually in adults aged 50-64 years dominated by tumors in the distal colon and rectum. Consequently, overall rectal cancer incidence increased by 1%…