Tag: Healthlines

• Colorectal cancer in people under 50 is on the rise and is now the leading cause of cancer-related death for younger adults.
• Experts say it’s still unclear why cases are rising among people under 50.
• Gabby Zappia is sharing her journey navigating diagnosis and treatment after her initial symptoms were misdiagnosed as pregnancy-related.

In 2024, Gabby Zappia was 36 years old and pregnant with her third child when she noticed blood in her stool.

“I brought it up to my OB, and she said it was likely pregnancy-related hemorrhoids. That explanation made sense, and I wanted it to make sense, so I trusted it,” she told Healthline.

After her son was born, her symptoms persisted, and she pushed for answers.

“A colonoscopy changed my life overnight. Instead of finding hemorrhoids, they found a large mass in my colon,” Zappia said.

In December 2024, Zappia was diagnosed with stage IV colon cancer that had spread to her liver.

“I was a full-time mom, managing all aspects of my kids’ schedules, and I also had a small part-time job,” she said. “After my diagnosis, I had to stop working to focus on appointments and recovery. My husband took over most of the day-to-day tasks that I had handled, and I had to step back significantly in my role as a mom.”

Zappia immediately had a colon resection and, after recovering, started chemotherapy and immunotherapy in January 2025 at City of Hope.

In April 2025, she took a break from chemotherapy and underwent liver resection surgery and implantation of an HAI pump. Then she resumed chemotherapy after recovery.

“After 15 rounds of chemotherapy, I was declared no evidence of disease and rang the survivor bell in September 2025. A few months later, ctDNA tests showed cancer detection, and a PET scan confirmed activity in my liver,” said Zappia.

She underwent another liver surgery in January 2026. Because her ctDNA remains detectable, she is now exploring clinical trials.

“Colon cancer is no longer just a disease of older adults, and it is on the rise. You know your body better than anyone. If something feels off, ask questions and request additional testing. Push for answers. Ask for the colonoscopy,” Zappia said.

If you’re not being heard, she stressed seeking a second opinion.

“We need more awareness. We need to listen to young patients. I am just one of many young faces of colon cancer, and if sharing my story helps even one person catch their cancer earlier, then sharing this journey has purpose,” said Zappia.

Once considered an older person’s disease, colorectal cancer is now the leading cause of cancer-related death in adults under 50.

According to a January 2026 JAMA study, colorectal cancer has surpassed breast and lung cancer to become the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in U.S. adults under 50.

Physicians at City of Hope, where Zappia received treatment, say they are now treating dozens of patients in their 20s, 30s, and 40s each week, reflecting what’s happening nationwide.

Pashtoon Kasi, MD, MS, Medical Director of GI Medical Oncology at City of Hope Orange County, who treated Gabby, said three out of four people under the age of 50 are diagnosed with advanced disease.

“There are no screening guidelines for somebody below the age of 45. It’s important to reiterate that the age of screening has moved from 50 to 45, [but] we’re frequently seeing individuals in their 20s, 30s, 40s, and because there is no screening test when they’re diagnosed, they’re often advanced or metastatic,” Kasi said.

While genetics can be a factor in a small percentage of early onset colorectal cancer, Kasi said the rise of colorectal cancer in younger people often occurs in people without any risk factors.

Researchers are looking into possible contributing factors, such as antibiotic use, the microbiome, diet, and microplastics, but no single factor explains the rise.

Paying attention to your body and symptoms is the strongest defense right now, said Kasi.

“A lot of our individuals, of course, they are young, so we’ve seen this cancer being diagnosed during or after pregnancy, and often it gets labeled as hemorrhoids or something that is not concerning, but in hindsight, probably should have warranted attention earlier,” he said.

Symptoms like rectal bleeding — which researchers say is a strong indication of early onset colorectal cancer in adults under 50 — changes in bowel habits, unexplained pain, and unintentional weight loss should be taken seriously.

“[The] fact that, at least right now, we don’t have guideline-approved screening tests for these younger individuals, these are symptoms that do warrant more attention,” Kasi said.

According to City of Hope doctors, researchers are working on ways to improve treatments, including an emphasis on improving immunotherapy response, targeted therapies, and conducting clinical trials for rectal cancer that combine chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and radiosensitizers.

Exploration of cellular and CAR-T therapies in highly refractory cases is also underway.

Ajay Goel, PhD, professor and Chair of the Department of Molecular Diagnostics and Experimental Therapeutics at City of Hope, is working on blood-based tests to detect colorectal cancer in younger patients.

“Over the past decade or so, [we] have developed now a blood-based test, which can find evidence of early onset colon cancers, with fairly high accuracy. So, somewhere in 90% accurate test for finding patients with young-onset colon cancer. So that was quite exciting,” he said.

While the test is not available publicly yet, Goel said it is promising. He envisions the test being given as part of annual labs drawn by primary care doctors starting with patients as young as 18.

“We are continuing to work on this, and we are hoping that we can, at some point, bring this test to the clinic once we can validate it in larger patient populations,” he said.

• A new study suggests that certain “forever chemicals” may quietly accelerate biological aging at the cellular level.
• Researchers found that higher levels of specific PFAS were linked to several years of accelerated aging, especially among middle-aged men.
• The findings raise new concerns about long-term health risks, given the widespread PFAS exposure in the United States.

“Forever chemicals” are linked to accelerated aging at the cellular level, particularly among middle-aged men, a new study suggests.

The findings add to growing concerns about widespread exposure to PFAS chemicals.

PFAS are used in products such as nonstick cookware, waterproof clothing, stain-resistant fabrics, and some firefighting foams. This is because they repel water, oil, and heat, making materials more durable and resistant to damage. The nickname reflects the fact that these chemicals break down very slowly and can linger for years in the environment and in human bodies.

Epigenetic aging estimates biological age at a cellular level based on chemical markers found on DNA. Researchers also found that specific PFAS compounds affected individuals differently. While the association was present across the broader study population, it was most pronounced among middle-aged men.

“While the study does not prove causation, it suggests that PFAS exposure may be linked to molecular changes related to aging and long-term health risk,” Xiangwei Li, PhD, professor of epidemiology at the Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine and senior author of the research, told Healthline.

While most research on forever chemicals has focused on two compounds, PFOS and PFOA, those chemicals are now considered “legacy” PFAS because they were largely phased out in the United States in the early 2000s.

Researchers are now shifting their focus to other PFAS compounds that, like legacy chemicals, are also persistent in the environment and potentially toxic, but less well studied. This study examined two additional PFAS compounds: perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) and perfluorosulfonic acids (PFSA).

The findings track with prior research in this area, said Andres Cardenas, PhD, assistant professor of epidemiology and population health at Stanford University. Cardenas wasn’t involved in the research.

“Our group looked at exactly this data and question before in 2025. Similarly, we found strong evidence that PFNA accelerated multiple epigenetic clocks in males,” he said.

Blood samples were tested for several PFAS chemicals, including PFNA and PFSA, which were detected in more than 95% of participants.

The team then examined epigenetic “clocks,” tools that estimate biological age based on chemical markers attached to DNA. Specifically, they measure DNA methylation patterns, which signal how fast the body is aging at a molecular level.

“Unlike chronological age, epigenetic age keeps track of the molecular ’wear and tear’ of genomic control,” Cardenas said.

Different epigenetic clocks have been developed over time to capture distinct biological processes linked to aging, such as inflammation and mortality risk.

The GrimAge clock, for example, is designed to predict risk of death and age-related disease, incorporating signals tied to inflammation and cardiovascular risk. LinAge, on the other hand, is linked more closely to life span prediction and fat metabolism.

Using these clocks, the researchers calculated whether a person’s biological age appeared older or younger than their actual years and tested whether higher PFAS levels were associated with faster biological aging.

The researchers found that higher levels of PFNA were associated with 2 to 4 years of accelerated aging, as measured by GrimAge. This association was strongest in adults ages 50 to 64 and in men.

PFSA showed a distinct association with LinAge-accelerated aging, suggesting that different PFAS chemicals may influence aging via distinct biological pathways.

The study does not explain why this association is strongest in middle-aged men, but Li has some hypotheses.

“Midlife is often a period when cardiometabolic function, inflammation, and stress-response systems begin to change more rapidly,” he said. “Together, these factors may make aging-related molecular pathways more responsive — or more vulnerable — to environmental stressors in midlife.”

Men may be more susceptible to the deleterious effects of PFAS than women due to biological differences such as hormones, body composition, and metabolism.

While the study cannot prove these chemicals cause faster aging, it suggests that certain PFAS may be linked to measurable changes in the body’s biological aging process, particularly during midlife.

Nearly all Americans have some level of PFAS in their blood. However, the levels of some specific chemicals, such as the legacy chemicals PFOS and PFOA, have declined significantly over time.

Since 2000, blood PFOS levels have declined by more than 85% and PFOA levels by more than 70%.

“Complete avoidance of PFAS is unrealistic, but exposure can be reduced,” said Li.

Since drinking water can be a source of forever chemicals, using certain water filters can help reduce exposure. Reverse osmosis and granular activated carbon filters can help, but effectiveness will vary.

“Drinking water and diet are likely major exposure routes for the majority of the population. Checking your water quality report from the municipal source or city is helpful in making decisions about potential filters to use if you live in an area affected by PFAS contamination,” said Cardenas.

• Swap out nonstick cookware (especially old scratched pans) for steel or glass.
• Eat less takeout and fast food (PFAS are commonly found in wrappers and containers)
• Avoid waterproof and stain-resistant clothing, furniture, and upholstery.

“In general, choosing greener consumer products and PFAS-free products, such as cookware or consumer products, is a good step,” Cardenas said.

• States are limiting or considering limits on programs that help people access HIV medications.
• Reductions include lowering income eligibility thresholds, restricting drug coverage, and tightening enrollment rules.
• Federal funding for HIV programs has remained largely flat for years, contributing to state budget shortfalls and is a key driver behind state-level restrictions.

Several states are cutting or considering reductions to programs that help people access HIV medications as federal funding has failed to keep pace with rising costs, according to a new report.

The February 2026 ADAP Watch report from the National Association of State and Territorial AIDS Directors (NASTAD), which tracks the fiscal health of state AIDS Drug Assistance Programs (ADAPs), warns that federal funding has “remained relatively unchanged over the last decade,” even as enrollment and healthcare costs have increased.

At least 18 states have already implemented cost-containment measures, and several others are weighing similar steps as budget shortfalls grow.

Several states have lowered income eligibility thresholds for their ADAPs or reduced the scope of covered medications, the report noted.

Florida, for example, recently reduced ADAP eligibility from 400% to 130% of the federal poverty level — a change estimated to affect more than 12,000 clients and leave many without direct access to antiretroviral medications or insurance premium assistance.

As part of its cost-containment strategy, the state has also dropped coverage of Biktarvy, a commonly prescribed single-tablet HIV regimen, and restricted coverage of Descovy to patients with specific clinical needs.

Other states have also tightened their rules. Pennsylvania lowered its eligibility from 500% to 350% of the federal poverty level, affecting roughly 1,600 clients.

Kansas has dropped its premium-assistance eligibility from 400% to 250%, while Delaware and Rhode Island have also reduced eligibility caps.

Some states have tightened recertification requirements or reduced formularies, including Arizona, Michigan, and Nevada, while several — such as Alaska and Oklahoma — have reinstated stricter six-month recertification policies.

In total, more than 20 states have adopted restrictions or are considering measures to reduce program spending.

The report points to flat federal funding for the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program as a key factor behind states’ cost-containment measures.

Although enrollment and medication costs have increased, federal appropriations have not kept pace, leaving states to shoulder more of the financial burden.

Those pressures follow broader federal funding reductions in HIV programs in recent years, including cuts to research and prevention initiatives.

In a press release, Carl Baloney, Jr., President and CEO of AIDS United, recently noted that sustained federal investment is essential to maintaining treatment access.

“Ending the HIV epidemic in the United States requires major investment from our federal government in HIV prevention, treatment, and support services in every state, county, and city in the country,” Baloney said.

“These investments prevent transmission, keep communities safe, save money over time by avoiding more expensive care later, and save lives. Each HIV infection prevented saves an estimated half-million dollars in lifetime treatment costs. Cutting public health infrastructure now is cutting our future,” Baloney continued.

ADAPs provide access to antiretroviral therapy and insurance assistance for low- and middle-income people living with HIV.

Consistent treatment enables people to achieve viral suppression, protecting their health and preventing transmission of the virus to others.

Reductions in eligibility, formulary changes, or limits on insurance assistance could disrupt medication access for some patients.

When treatment is interrupted, HIV can begin replicating again, weakening the immune system and increasing the risk of serious illness.

Interruptions may also increase the risk of drug resistance, potentially limiting future treatment options and making it harder to maintain current rates of viral suppression nationwide.

• A recent study suggested that 7 hours and 18 minutes of sleep may be the optimal amount to reduce the risk of insulin resistance, a precursor to type 2 diabetes.
• The study noted that catching up on sleep on the weekend may actually increase the risk of impaired glucose metabolism.
• Sleep, along with other lifestyle changes, can greatly reduce your risk of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.

There is a long-standing relationship between type 2 diabetes and sleep. Type 2 diabetes can disrupt your sleep, while certain sleep disorders can increase your risk of developing it.

“There are many benefits to getting adequate sleep. These include better cognitive function, emotional well-being, immune function, weight management, athletic performance, and even longevity,” David Cutler, MD, board certified family medicine physician at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, CA, who was not involved in the study, told Healthline.

“Improved metabolic function and a lower risk of diabetes is also dependent on getting the right amount of sleep.”

A recent study published in the open-access journal BMJ Open Diabetes Research & Care suggests that 7 hours and 18 minutes may be the “sweet spot” for reducing your risk of insulin resistance.

Insulin resistance is when cells in your muscles, fat, and liver don’t respond properly to insulin, leading to a buildup of glucose in your blood. This is a precursor to type 2 diabetes.

“Importantly, there appears to be a bidirectional relationship between sleep and metabolism. For instance, poor glycemic status itself has been linked to a higher likelihood of both short and extended sleep durations, as well as sleep disorders,” the researchers of the recent study said.

“This creates a potential vicious cycle wherein metabolic dysregulation disrupts normal sleep patterns, and the resultant abnormal sleep (including extended duration) further aggravates metabolic health.”

The researchers explain that the estimated glucose disposal rate (eGDR) is considered a reliable substitute for insulin resistance.

eGDR is a measure of insulin sensitivity. The higher the eGDR, the lower the risk.

The study’s researchers set out to investigate the association between weekday sleep duration and eGDR, as well as the moderating effects of weekend catch-up sleep.

The researchers categorized weekend sleep as:

• none
• up to 1 hour
• 1 to 2 hours
• more than 2 hours

They calculated the eGDR using a formula that involved:

The average eGDR was 8.23. Individuals slept for an average of 7 hours and 30 minutes on weekdays. A little over 48% of participants reported catching up on sleep on the weekend. They slept for an average of 8 hours during this time.

Analysis of the data showed an inverted U-shaped relationship between sleep duration and eGDR. The “sweet spot” appeared to be at 7 hours 18 minutes.

Below this threshold, greater nightly sleep was associated with higher eGDR. Above the threshold, more nightly sleep was associated with a lower eGDR. This was particularly true among females and those between the ages of 40 to 59.

Further analysis showed that for those sleeping less than the optimal threshold during the week, 1 to 2 hours of catch-up sleep at the weekend was associated with a higher eGDR compared with no catch-up sleep.

For those who slept more than the optimal threshold during the week, 2 hours of catch-up sleep at the weekend was associated with a lower eGDR after accounting for potentially influential factors, such as:

• lifestyle
• ethnicity
• marital status
• educational attainment

“What a great study, and so good to see further evidence that the myth of 8 hours of sleep is too much. This supports a prior study between the U.K. and China, which also showed 7 hours to be optimal for mental health and cognitive performance,” said Alex Dimitriu, MD, double board certified in Psychiatry and Sleep Medicine and founder of Menlo Park Psychiatry & Sleep Medicine, who was not involved in the study.

“In the end, our lives exist on a spectrum between sleep and wake — too much sleep is often linked to illness and depression, while too little sleep is linked to anxiety and insomnia. Our autonomic nervous system sets this balance, and here we see additional support for an optimal balance — around 7 hours of sleep.”

This was an observational study, which means that no firm conclusions about cause and effect can be drawn. The researchers acknowledged that the study relied on self-reported data. They also noted that they couldn’t rule out reverse causation, meaning that disrupted glucose metabolism may interfere with sleep rather than the other way around.

“These correlational findings suggest that sleep patterns, particularly weekend recovery sleep, may be relevant for metabolic regulation in diabetes and could inform considerations for healthcare professionals in managing patient care,” said the research team.

“Sleep loves regularity and rhythmicity — and is one of the biggest metabolic levers we have. This study adds further support for the importance of sleeping about 7 to 7.5 hours per night. No need to stress that you didn’t sleep 8 hours. But also, don’t let this be a slippery slope to start getting 6,” said Dimitriu.

Previous research has shown a direct link between sleep habits and type 2 diabetes.

Individuals with type 2 diabetes often experience issues with sleep. This can negatively affect their mood, health, and quality of life.

“Sleeping less than 7 hours may be associated with an elevated state of alertness, which also comes with elevated adrenaline and cortisol levels, all of which can raise blood glucose. Conversely, sleeping too much may be associated with other illnesses and lack of mobility — both of which can also have negative metabolic impacts,” said Dimtriu.

The reverse is also true, however. Sleep disorders, like obstructive sleep apnea, can increase the risk of metabolic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes.

“Diet and exercise are also major determinants in controlling the development of diabetes. But since poor sleep will often trigger a worse diet and a diminished capacity for exercise, focusing on sleep can target many birds with one stone,” said Cutler.

• The American Cancer Society reports that the incidence of colorectal cancer cases in U.S. adults ages 20 to 49 has been rising about 3% per year.
• Experts say there may be a number of factors for this increase, including unhealthy diets, sedentary lifestyles, and the impact of microplastics on the human body.
• They recommend that most adults start colorectal cancer screenings at age 45.

A new report from the American Cancer Society (ACS) highlights what’s being described as an alarming increase in colorectal cancer cases in young adults.

In their findings, published in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, officials at the ACS report that the overall incidence of colorectal cancer in adults in the United States decreased by nearly 1% annually between 2013 and 2022.

The decline was mostly driven by a 2.5% annual decrease in colorectal cancer cases among U.S. adults ages 65 years and older.

However, the report found that colorectal cancer cases have increased by 0.4% annually in U.S. adults ages 50 to 64.

More alarming, the authors said, was the 3% annual increase in colorectal cancer cases in U.S. adults ages 20 to 49.

They project that 45% of colorectal cancer diagnoses this year will be in individuals younger than 65, up from 27% in 1995. They predict that one-third of the expected 55,000 colorectal cancer deaths in the United States this year will be in people younger than 65.

The findings also show that rectal cancer cases now represent 32% of all colorectal cancer cases, up from 27% two decades ago.

Nikita Wagle, PhD, a principal scientist in cancer surveillance research at the ACS and second author of the new report, said the trend is a call to action for the medical community.

“Despite decades of progress in the fight against cancer, colorectal cancer death rates are increasing among younger men and women,” Wagle told Healthline. “It is important that we intensify research to uncover the causes as well as take action to prevent these deaths.”

In their report, ACS officials state that colorectal cancer is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer in both males and females in the United States.

They say it’s the second most common cancer-related death in the United States overall. It’s the number one cause of cancer-related death in U.S. adults under 50 years of age.

The ACS estimates there will be 158,850 new cases of colorectal cancer in the United States in 2026, including 108,860 colon tumors and 49,990 rectal tumors.

In its report, the ACS states that more than one-half of colorectal cancer cases are attributable to modifiable risk factors, such as:

Nilesh Vora, MD, a medical oncologist and medical director of the MemorialCare Todd Cancer Institute at Long Beach Medical Center, has witnessed an uptick in colorectal cancer patients and said the numbers didn’t surprise him. Vora wasn’t involved in the report.

“It doesn’t change the concern I already have about this trend,” he told Healthline.

Geoffrey Buckle, MD, a gastrointestinal medical oncologist at the University of California, San Francisco, said the new ACS statistics align with what he and his colleagues have noticed in their practices. Buckle wasn’t involved in the report.

“We are seeing a growing incidence of colorectal cancer that is indeed alarming,” said Buckle. “The statistics reflect what we see in our clinics every day.”

Buckle told Healthline that there are various factors driving the increase in early onset colorectal cancer cases, including:

Some research has indicated that an overabundance of microplastics in the bodies of younger adults may be another factor, Buckle said.

Another theory suggests that toxins produced by the bacteria E. coli, which damage DNA, could be contributing to rising colorectal cancer cases.

Wagle agreed there may be new factors affecting younger adults’ risk of colorectal cancer.

“Since the late 20th century, there have been many newer exposures, such as ultra-processed food and microplastics, that may influence cancer risk, and to which younger generations have had greater cumulative exposure than older adults, who have had a lifetime of cumulative exposures,” she explained.

Vora echoed that there may be some credence to these theories. “Other environmental factors need to be considered,” he said.

The issue came to the forefront in August 2020, when Chadwick Boseman, the star of the film “Black Panther,” died from colon cancer at 43.

In 2024, a study presented at the Digestive Disease Week conference reported that colorectal cancer cases had tripled among U.S. teens from 1999 to 2020.

In October 2025, researchers reported that rectal bleeding is a strong indication of early onset colorectal cancer in adults under 50.

The issue was highlighted again in early February when James Van Der Beek, an actor best-known for his role on the television series “Dawson’s Creek,” died from colon cancer at the age of 48.

The trends prompted the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force to revise its guidelines for colorectal cancer screening. The agency now recommends that these screenings begin at age 45 for most adults.

There are different options for colorectal cancer screening that range from a colonoscopy to at-home stool-based tests.

Buckle said screening is the most important tool in the prevention of colorectal cancer. He added that young adults should be aware of the early warning signs of the disease, such as:

Buckle said that adults in their late 40s and 50s have become increasingly aware of the risk of colorectal cancer and the potential symptoms.

However, he said that adults under 45 aren’t as attuned to the issues. “There is a definitive lack of recognition,” Buckle said.

Buckle noted that younger adults should also be aware of their family history of colorectal cancer.

He recommended regular exercise as well as a diet that avoids ultra-processed foods, sugar, and red meat and includes plenty of fresh vegetables and fruits.

Wagle recommended that younger adults avoid smoking, limit their alcohol use, and maintain a healthy weight.

Vora said it’s important for younger adults to be diligent in monitoring symptoms and getting screened.

“You should get screened on time for colorectal cancer even if you don’t have symptoms,” said Vora. “And if you have symptoms, seek medical care as soon as possible.”

• The American Cancer Society reports that the incidence of colorectal cancer cases in U.S. adults ages 20 to 49 has been rising about 3% per year.
• Experts say there may be a number of factors for this increase, including unhealthy diets, sedentary lifestyles, and the impact of microplastics on the human body.
• They recommend that most adults start colorectal cancer screenings at age 45.

A new report from the American Cancer Society (ACS) highlights what’s being described as an alarming increase in colorectal cancer cases in young adults.

In their findings, published in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, officials at the ACS report that the overall incidence of colorectal cancer in adults in the United States decreased by nearly 1% annually between 2013 and 2022.

The decline was mostly driven by a 2.5% annual decrease in colorectal cancer cases among U.S. adults ages 65 years and older.

However, the report found that colorectal cancer cases have increased by 0.4% annually in U.S. adults ages 50 to 64.

More alarming, the authors said, was the 3% annual increase in colorectal cancer cases in U.S. adults ages 20 to 49.

They project that 45% of colorectal cancer diagnoses this year will be in individuals younger than 65, up from 27% in 1995. They predict that one-third of the expected 55,000 colorectal cancer deaths in the United States this year will be in people younger than 65.

The findings also show that rectal cancer cases now represent 32% of all colorectal cancer cases, up from 27% two decades ago.

Nikita Wagle, PhD, a principal scientist in cancer surveillance research at the ACS and second author of the new report, said the trend is a call to action for the medical community.

“Despite decades of progress in the fight against cancer, colorectal cancer death rates are increasing among younger men and women,” Wagle told Healthline. “It is important that we intensify research to uncover the causes as well as take action to prevent these deaths.”

In their report, ACS officials state that colorectal cancer is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer in both males and females in the United States.

They say it’s the second most common cancer-related death in the United States overall. It’s the number one cause of cancer-related death in U.S. adults under 50 years of age.

The ACS estimates there will be 158,850 new cases of colorectal cancer in the United States in 2026, including 108,860 colon tumors and 49,990 rectal tumors.

In its report, the ACS states that more than one-half of colorectal cancer cases are attributable to modifiable risk factors, such as:

Nilesh Vora, MD, a medical oncologist and medical director of the MemorialCare Todd Cancer Institute at Long Beach Medical Center, has witnessed an uptick in colorectal cancer patients and said the numbers didn’t surprise him. Vora wasn’t involved in the report.

“It doesn’t change the concern I already have about this trend,” he told Healthline.

Geoffrey Buckle, MD, a gastrointestinal medical oncologist at the University of California, San Francisco, said the new ACS statistics align with what he and his colleagues have noticed in their practices. Buckle wasn’t involved in the report.

“We are seeing a growing incidence of colorectal cancer that is indeed alarming,” said Buckle. “The statistics reflect what we see in our clinics every day.”

Buckle told Healthline that there are various factors driving the increase in early onset colorectal cancer cases, including:

Some research has indicated that an overabundance of microplastics in the bodies of younger adults may be another factor, Buckle said.

Another theory suggests that toxins produced by the bacteria E. coli, which damage DNA, could be contributing to rising colorectal cancer cases.

Wagle agreed there may be new factors affecting younger adults’ risk of colorectal cancer.

“Since the late 20th century, there have been many newer exposures, such as ultra-processed food and microplastics, that may influence cancer risk, and to which younger generations have had greater cumulative exposure than older adults, who have had a lifetime of cumulative exposures,” she explained.

Vora echoed that there may be some credence to these theories. “Other environmental factors need to be considered,” he said.

The issue came to the forefront in August 2020, when Chadwick Boseman, the star of the film “Black Panther,” died from colon cancer at 43.

In 2024, a study presented at the Digestive Disease Week conference reported that colorectal cancer cases had tripled among U.S. teens from 1999 to 2020.

In October 2025, researchers reported that rectal bleeding is a strong indication of early onset colorectal cancer in adults under 50.

The issue was highlighted again in early February when James Van Der Beek, an actor best-known for his role on the television series “Dawson’s Creek,” died from colon cancer at the age of 48.

The trends prompted the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force to revise its guidelines for colorectal cancer screening. The agency now recommends that these screenings begin at age 45 for most adults.

There are different options for colorectal cancer screening that range from a colonoscopy to at-home stool-based tests.

Buckle said screening is the most important tool in the prevention of colorectal cancer. He added that young adults should be aware of the early warning signs of the disease, such as:

Buckle said that adults in their late 40s and 50s have become increasingly aware of the risk of colorectal cancer and the potential symptoms.

However, he said that adults under 45 aren’t as attuned to the issues. “There is a definitive lack of recognition,” Buckle said.

Buckle noted that younger adults should also be aware of their family history of colorectal cancer.

He recommended regular exercise as well as a diet that avoids ultra-processed foods, sugar, and red meat and includes plenty of fresh vegetables and fruits.

Wagle recommended that younger adults avoid smoking, limit their alcohol use, and maintain a healthy weight.

Vora said it’s important for younger adults to be diligent in monitoring symptoms and getting screened.

“You should get screened on time for colorectal cancer even if you don’t have symptoms,” said Vora. “And if you have symptoms, seek medical care as soon as possible.”

• A recent study found that people with type 2 diabetes who used GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) in combination with healthy lifestyle habits had a reduced risk of major adverse cardiovascular events.
• The findings show that GLP-1 RAs, when combined with healthy habits, independently improved heart health, though to varying degrees.
• The researchers noted that lifestyle interventions remain pivotal in diabetes management and can amplify the benefits of GLP-1 RAs.

Type 2 diabetes is a growing health concern in the United States, overlapping with the obesity epidemic.

According to research from 2017, the prevalence of diabetes will increase by 54% by 2030. This is an estimated 54.9 million people.

A recent study published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology found that a combination of GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) and healthy lifestyle habits can reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in people with type 2 diabetes.

“Our findings underscore that, even in the era of highly effective GLP-1 pharmacotherapy, lifestyle habits remain central to diabetes management and cardiovascular risk reduction and can substantially amplify the benefits of modern medications,” Frank Hu, MD, Fredrick J. Stare Professor of Nutrition and Epidemiology and chair of the Department of Nutrition at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and corresponding author of the study, said in a press release.

The researchers looked at the lifestyle habits, GLP-1 RA usage, and cardiovascular outcomes of over 98,000 adults who had type 2 diabetes and no previous history of cardiovascular disease.

The researchers considered 8 healthy habits:

The MACEs they considered were:

The study found that using a GLP-1 RA and maintaining a healthy lifestyle significantly reduced the risk for MACE.

“We know that GLP-1 receptor agonists can improve cardiovascular health in patients with diabetes. We also know that good lifestyle habits such as eating [a] heart-healthy diet, getting regular physical activity, and getting enough quality sleep, are all beneficial in controlling the risk factors that lead to heart disease,” Cheng-Han Chen, MD, board certified interventional cardiologist and medical director of the Structural Heart Program at MemorialCare Saddleback Medical Center in Laguna Hills, CA, who was not involved in the study, told Healthline.

“It is thus not surprising that combining both GLP-1 receptor agonists and healthy lifestyle modifications can have additive beneficial effects.”

Individuals who used a GLP-1 RA and adhered to between six and eight healthy habits showed a 43% lower risk of MACE than those who did not use a GLP-1 RA and adhered to three or fewer habits.

Those who adhered to all eight healthy habits had a 60% reduced risk compared to those who adhered to only one or fewer. Finally, people who used a GLP-1 RA had a 16% lower MACE risk than those who didn’t.

“From a public health perspective, the results underscore the continued importance of population-level investments and policy in promoting healthy diet, physical activity, sleep, stress management, and social connection, even in a modern drug era,” Hu said in the press release.

“As novel therapies expand, scalable lifestyle interventions remain essential for reducing the overall burden of cardiovascular disease and other chronic diseases.”

The researchers noted that the study had limitations.

First, the results were based on observational data. This means that it was possible there was some residual confounding by socioeconomic status and other factors. However, these variables were accounted for during analysis.

Additionally, the study population consisted predominantly of white male veterans.

This may have limited the generalizability of the results. However, the findings were consistent across racial and ethnic groups and between males and females.

“Keeping diabetes under control is a long-term process,” Chen said.

“It is important to understand the composition of your food so that you can make the correct choices. We recommended getting regular physical activity. It is also important to avoid alcohol and tobacco, and to get enough quality sleep.”

• Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi has shared her recent cervical cancer diagnosis on her social media.
• She emphasized the importance of routine Pap smears and early detection.
• Cervical cancer is largely preventable through the HPV vaccine.

Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi of “Jersey Shore” fame recently revealed that she has been diagnosed with stage 1 cervical cancer.

On February 20, Polizzi, 38, posted on TikTok about the cone biopsy she had after a routine pap smear.

“It came back stage 1 cervical cancer called adenocarcinoma,” the reality TV star said.

“Obviously not the news I’ve been hoping for, but also not the worst news just because they caught it so early. Thank freaking God!”

Cervical cancer is most frequently diagnosed between the ages of 35 and 64. Here’s what you need to know about getting screened.

In her TikTok videos, Polizzi also stressed the importance of all females going in to get their routine pap smears (cervical screenings).

“I’m 38 years old, and I’ve been struggling with abnormal pap smears for three or four years now, and now look at me,” she said.

“Instead of putting it off because I didn’t want to go, because I was hurt and scared, I just went and did it. And it was there, cancer is in there. But it’s stage 1, and it’s curable.”

She continued to tell people to get their appointments done. “Once you go to stage 2, then you have to do chemo… nobody wants to do that! It’s scary. So get your appointments done,” she encouraged.

Diana Pearre, MD, board certified gynecologic oncologist at The Roy and Patricia Disney Family Cancer Center at Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center in Burbank, CA, agreed.

“It is so important to get pap smears (cervical cancer screenings),” she told Healthline. “They allow us to screen women for HPV (the virus that causes cervical cancer) and identify cells that can become precancerous. In doing so, we can prevent many cases of cervical cancer before they transform to cancers.”

Polizzi said that she was being transferred to an oncologist and would undergo a PET scan to be sure the cancer has not spread to other parts of her body.

“After that, I’m gonna probably get the hysterectomy,” Polizzi added. She also noted that her doctor gave her the alternative of chemotherapy and radiation as treatment.

“Obviously, I think the smart choice here is the hysterectomy. I’ll still keep my ovaries, which is a good sign. But yeah, gotta get the cervix and uterus out. It all depends on the PET scan,” she said.

“I appreciate all of the love. Everything’s going to be fine. I’m going to tackle this and get it done,” Polizzi told her followers. “I gotta keep attacking this, and everything’s gonna be great.”

While cervical cancer is common, it is also largely preventable.

Nearly all cases of cervical cancer are due to long-lasting and persistent HPV infections.

However, the HPV vaccine is a safe way to prevent the HPV infection and cervical cancer. The current recommendation is that anyone ages 11 to 26 should have the HPV vaccine.

“It is so important to get this vaccine. Giving children this vaccine (boys and girls alike) can prevent HPV related cancers (cervical, head and neck, vulvar, vaginal) before the onset of sexual debut. It can also help women who already have cervical dysplasia, lowering the risk of severe dysplasia recurrence,” Pearre said.

The vaccine dose schedule depends on your age when you receive it.

The vaccine is not recommended for everyone over 26, but you can speak with your healthcare professional to see if it is right for you.

“I recommend anyone ages 9 to 46 to consider getting the HPV vaccine if they have not done so,” Pearre said. “There are little to no side effects. It does not affect fertility, age at sexual debut, [or] menstrual patterns. It is one of the few vaccines (the other being the hepatitis vaccine) that can prevent cancer development.”

• Actor and director Aisha Tyler opens up about why high blood pressure is personal.
• She teamed up with the CDC Foundation to raise awareness about hypertension and how to control it.
• About half of Americans live with high blood pressure.

Actor and director Aisha Tyler, best known for playing Dr. Tara Lewis in Criminal Minds and Lana Kane in Archer, is spreading the word about preventing high blood pressure, which affects nearly half of U.S. adults.

“[My] father had a pretty major stroke several years ago, and it really made me start to focus a bit more closely on my own potential risk factors, including blood pressure,” she told Healthline.

Because her dad was a fit and active person, the stroke was a shock.

“[It] just made me realize that these factors don’t always reveal themselves in either lifestyle or in physical symptoms,” Tyler said.

She teamed up with the CDC Foundation to launch Hypertension Bites, a national campaign designed to help adults better understand high blood pressure and the steps they can take to get it under control during midlife.

Left uncontrolled, it is the leading risk factor for heart attack, stroke, aneurysm, aortic dissection, kidney failure, and dementia.

“Over time, high blood pressure can cause chronic heart damage from excessive thickening of the heart muscle (left ventricular hypertrophy), eventually weakening the muscle and causing heart failure,” Bhavna Suri, MD, cardiologist at Manhattan Cardiology and contributor to LabFinder, told Healthline.

When it damages the blood vessels in the eyes, it can lead to hypertensive retinopathy, resulting in blurred vision or complete blindness, she added.

She also noted that it can “cause hardening of the arteries or atherosclerosis, leading to erectile dysfunction.“

Because the condition is typically asymptomatic and most people with high blood pressure feel fine, they frequently miss high blood pressure symptoms, said Suri.

When symptoms related to high blood pressure, like headaches, dizziness, vision changes, or fatigue, occur, she said they are often attributed to stress, aging, or lack of sleep rather than hypertension.

However, Suri said high blood pressure is treatable and controllable despite being a chronic condition that typically requires lifelong management.

“While there is no ‘cure’ that makes it go away forever, many people successfully keep their blood pressure in a healthy range through a combination of lifestyle changes and medical treatment,” she said.

This is the message Tyler is spreading through the Hypertension Campaign. Healthline spoke with her to learn more about her thoughts on preventive care, healthy aging, and how she balances work and life.

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity and length.

I was so excited about this hypertension campaign because I felt like it gives people a really simple place to start. Have a visit with your doctor, find out what your numbers are, put a really simple plan in place [and] if you have to go on medication, medications are really effective, and they can help you control your numbers.

[People often think] if you have a stroke or if you have a heart attack, there’s just nothing you can really do about it. It’s just something that’s a mystery. It runs in the family. But there’s just literally so many things you can do to mitigate that risk, and I wanted to try to demystify some of that for people.

Sometimes people [also] think, “out of sight, out of mind,” but in the case of hypertension, what you don’t know could have a very detrimental effect on your life. So it’s just better to know. Knowledge is power.

Tyler: Yes. I was a real no-guts, no-glory kind of person in my [younger years]. I was a competitive athlete, and I was very much like, “If it hurts, you’re just not pushing hard enough.”

It’s been a philosophical adjustment now. I’m a real science-based person [and we know that] being well-rested isn’t just about good vibes. If I want to perform at my best level, I need to actually make rest a part of my routine.

I used to be performing at a high level, pushing myself to collapse, and now I realize that’s not optimal. I feel better, I sleep better, I’m more fit now than I was 10 or 15 years ago. And that is entirely because I’ve changed the way that I take care of my body and my mind.

Tyler: I try to get eight hours of sleep every day. Sleep is number one, and we know that sleep has such a big impact on all of your health factors, including preventing cognitive decline.

I also take a walk every single day, sometimes two, if I can manage it. And they’re not strenuous, they’re just meant to reset the mind. It’s a really great time to think, solve a problem, or if you’ve had a stressful moment. I really focus on de-stressing as part of my work today.

I listen to a lot of YouTube, too, and like optimization podcasts [that] focus on women’s health and optimizing women’s health.

The more boring stuff is, I try to eat different vegetables. I don’t eat a lot of junk food. I have a glass of wine occasionally, but I try to eat healthy, so that those nights out feel more special and fun. Balance also makes those nights feel more special.

Tyler: I really like being busy. It is my natural state. I am a workaholic. I’m not ashamed to say that out loud. As I get older, [my focus] is trying to find work balance because I think if you asked me 10 years ago, I would say I don’t have any. But the more balance I have in my life, the better I am at my job, the better I am at being creative and coming up with ideas.

I also don’t apologize for being ambitious. Especially as a woman, we’re told, “Hey, don’t push so hard, stay in your lane, take it easy.” I feel like my ambition is what’s gotten me to where I am, and my work ethic has gotten me to where I am. And so, I embrace it, but I’m embracing it in a more balanced way than when I was younger.

I definitely focus more than I ever have on my friendships and my relationships. There’s a lot of science around how friendships are what keep you active and connected as you get older, so I really focus on the people in my life that I care about, spending quality time with them, and connecting with them in a meaningful way. That has been a big priority as I’ve gotten older.

• A recent review found that ultraprocessed foods (UPFs) may be as addictive as tobacco products.
• The researchers found that UPFs are designed to heighten reward and accelerate the delivery of reinforcing ingredients.
• The “addictive” quality of these foods means they drive compulsive consumption and disrupt appetite regulation.
• The review authors suggest that ultraprocessed foods should be subject to regulations similar to those for tobacco products.

Currently, there is no single universal definition of ultraprocessed foods. Some people define them as foods that contain ingredients you would not find in your kitchen cupboards, such as emulsifiers and additives.

Many professionals use the NOVA classification to define ultraprocessed foods. This talks about foods that contain “formulations of ingredients, mostly of exclusive industrial use, typically created by a series of industrial techniques and processes.”

“I agree with this study, as ultra-processed foods are specifically engineered to be highly appealing to most individuals,” Mir Ali, MD, bariatric surgeon and medical director of MemorialCare Surgical Weight Loss Center at Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, CA, who was not involved in the research, told Healthline.

Research from 2023 estimates that over 73% of the foods in the United States are ultraprocessed.

“Cigarettes and UPFs [ultraprocessed foods] are not simply natural products but highly engineered delivery systems designed specifically to maximize biological and psychological reinforcement and habitual overuse,” noted the new study’s research team from Harvard, Duke, and the University of Michigan.

The review synthesized findings from addiction, public health history, and nutrition in order to identify sensory and structural features that increase the reinforcing potential of both cigarettes and ultraprocessed foods.

“Not everyone is ‘addicted’ to these foods, but for a meaningful minority, they trigger classic addiction-like patterns: strong cravings, loss of control, and continued use despite negative health effects,” said Michelle Routhenstein, preventive cardiology dietitian at EntirelyNourished, who was not involved in the study.

“These foods are deliberately engineered with refined carbs, added fats, salt, and flavor enhancers to maximize reward and repeat consumption, and the industry uses aggressive marketing tactics, especially targeting children,” she told Healthline.

The researchers focused on five key areas:

• delivery speed
• hedonic engineering, or designing foods to be irresistibly good
• dose optimization
• environmental ubiquity
• deceptive reformulation, or “health washing”

They found that, like cigarettes, ultraprocessed foods are fine-tuned to deliver the right dose of sugar.

“Refined carbohydrates stimulate dopamine release via the vagus nerve, whereas fats do so through intestinal lipid sensing,” the researchers wrote.

“… UPFs with high levels of refined carbohydrates and added fats are some of the most potently rewarding substances in the modern diet. Notably, this refined carbohydrate-fat combination is almost nonexistent in nature.”

The way these foods rapidly deliver “feel-good” chemicals to the brain makes them potentially addictive, similarly to cigarettes.

The review noted that while cigarettes are engineered to deliver nicotine quickly, ultraprocessed foods are engineered to rapidly digest and absorb, as they typically have little to no fiber. This makes it easier for the body to process fat and sugar more quickly.

The researchers also explain that ultraprocessed foods give intentional flavor bursts that fade quickly and textures that melt in your mouth. This all helps to deliver more dopamine and encourages you to eat more.

According to the review, both the tobacco and food industries have long used a strategy called “health washing.”

This is where products are marketed and reformulated to create an illusion of reduced harm while preserving the core of their addictive properties.

Health washing in the tobacco industry gained traction in the 1950s with the introduction of filters on cigarettes.

These were marketed as protective innovations that would trap tar and particles before they reached the lungs. In reality, filters offer little meaningful benefit.

However, people typically adapted by inhaling deeper or smoking more frequently, which offset any reduction in toxin exposure.

The food industry has taken a similar approach. It uses labels like “low fat” or “sugar-free” to market ultraprocessed foods.

However, these foods still contain the same highly reinforcing ingredient combinations. The issue is that these reformulations offer a superficial appearance of health while the product’s addictive structure and metabolic harms remain intact.

The researchers noted at the end of their paper that food and tobacco are not the same thing.

Still, they cautioned that certain ultraprocessed foods function like highly optimized consumables rather than actual food. They recommended that public health policy should reflect this reality.

“Tobacco provides a warning, and tobacco control provides a source of hope,” the researchers wrote.

Due to regulations, smoking rates in the United States have fallen and have “reshaped cultural views of tobacco and eroded trust in the industry.”

“I believe increased education regarding the negative impact of ultra-processed foods is essential to reduce general consumption and improve public health. The strategies used to reduce cigarette consumption have been effective and may be a helpful model for ultra-processed foods as well,” said Ali.

“I don’t think UPFs [ultraprocessed foods] should be regulated exactly like cigarettes, but they do warrant stronger, tobacco-inspired policies: marketing restrictions, clear front-of-package labeling, tighter standards on health claims, and limits in schools or hospitals,” added Routhenstein.

The researchers reminded people that minimally processed and unprocessed foods have sustained human health for millennia.

“Legal action against health damages and misleading health claims, restrictions on UPF advertising, taxation of nutrient-poor UPFs, markedly reducing UPFs in schools and hospitals, and clearer labeling of ultraprocessing could all serve as next steps,” they noted.

“Policies that confront UPFs with the same seriousness that once applied to tobacco, while actively promoting real food, offer the most promising path out of the current crisis.”

Routhenstein agreed and told Healthline that public policy should expand access to fresh, minimally processed foods. This is especially true in lower-income neighborhoods, she explained. Access could be expanded through subsidies, support for local markets and grocery stores, and school or workplace programs.

“Making real food affordable and convenient reduces reliance on UPFs and addresses structural barriers that drive unhealthy eating patterns,” Routhenstein said.