Routine screening colonoscopy decreases colon cancer mortality in those over 50 years old, but a new study in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute highlights a disturbing trend…that young patients are being diagnosed with colon cancer at higher rates than they have in the past! And, they are being diagnosed at advanced stages. For example, people born in 1990 have double the risk of colon cancer compared to those born in 1950. Rectal cancer is four times more likely in the younger group. Young patients are being diagnosed at advanced stages because the disease is often not considered in the differential diagnosis when younger patients complain of symptoms, therefore the diagnosis is often delayed. At Gateway, we are aware of this disturbing trend and are happy to arrange appropriate testing so that colon cancer mortality does not increase in our young patients.