Colorectal cancer cases climb among young Dutch adults, study finds
The number of people under 50 diagnosed with colorectal cancer in the Netherlands has been steadily increasing over the past three decades and is expected to continue rising, according to a new analysis by the Netherlands Comprehensive Cancer Organisation (IKNL) and research partners.
The study, led by IKNL researcher Marloes Elferink and published in the Nederlands Tijdschrift voor Geneeskunde, draws on over 30 years of data from the Netherlands Cancer Registry (NKR). It follows international findings that report a similar upward trend in early-onset colorectal cancer globally. The Dutch research team aimed to determine whether the same pattern was present in the Netherlands and how it might evolve in the coming years.
From 1989 to 2023, more than 20,000 cases of colorectal cancer among people aged 15 to 49 were recorded in the national database. The analysis shows a statistically significant increase in the number of annual diagnoses between 1998 and 2023. In 1998, 6.3 cases were reported per 100,000 individuals in this age group. By 2023, that rate had risen to 9.5 per 100,000.
This means that 654 Dutch people aged 15 to 49 were diagnosed with colorectal cancer in 2023. That number is projected to rise to 762 by the year 2035. While the increase is notable, researchers point out that the total number of younger patients remains relatively small and the trend is less severe than in countries like the United States and Australia. Currently, and in future projections, people under 50 are expected to account for about 5 percentt of all colorectal cancer cases in the Netherlands.
The study includes a graph showing both historical data from 1989 to 2023 and projected incidence rates from 2024 to 2035. Observed values are marked with data points, while predicted values are shown with solid lines and accompanied by 80 and 95 percent confidence intervals, indicated with dashed and dotted lines.
Researchers say the exact causes of the rise among younger adults are not yet fully understood. However, international studies suggest several lifestyle and environmental risk factors, such as obesity, physical inactivity, and consumption of red and processed meats or alcohol. Genetic predisposition appears to play a minor role, affecting only a small percentage of cases.
The concern, experts say, is compounded by the fact that younger patients are often diagnosed at a later stage and more frequently present with aggressive tumor characteristics.
“Younger patients tend to experience more severe psychosocial and physical consequences, including sexual dysfunction and financial instability,” Elferink said. “The impact of colorectal cancer at a young age is significant.”
Unlike individuals over 50, younger adults are not included in the national colorectal cancer screening program. This makes early detection more difficult, despite its potential to improve treatment outcomes.
“It’s essential that healthcare professionals are aware of this trend and remain vigilant for symptoms even in younger patients,” Elferink said. She added that heightened awareness and earlier diagnosis could help reduce the severity of outcomes in this growing patient group.
