Colorectal cancer rates are rising rapidly among young people worldwide. Experts expect it to become the leading cause of cancer death among people ages 20 to 49 by 2030. Younger patients are also more likely to be diagnosed at later stages.

In 2019, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute launched its Young-Onset Colorectal Cancer Center. The center is pioneering a specialized model of care to address and study the unique needs of younger cancer patients.

To break down the clinical and research offerings at the Young-Onset Colorectal Cancer Center, senior writer Anastassia Gliadkovskaya talks to Kimmie Ng, M.D., the center’s founding director. Ng is also associate chief of GI Oncology at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School. 

To learn more about the topics in this episode: 

• More patients are surviving cancer, but incident rates rising among women and younger adults: ACS report

• As colorectal cancer patients get younger, governments need to boost awareness, screening: report

• Cancer death rate continues to decline but new cases expected to top 2 million this year, study finds