Colorectal Cancer in 2026: What the Latest Data Means This March

March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. Colorectal cancer is one of the most preventable, yet still deadly, cancers in the United States. In 2026, the American Cancer Society estimates that about 153,000 people in the U.S. will be diagnosed, and over 52,000 will die. These numbers represent families facing life-altering news and often preventable loss.

Colorectal cancer is the third most diagnosed cancer in both men and women, excluding skin cancers. It is also the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths when men and women are combined. While mortality rates have declined significantly since the 1980s, largely because of screening and improved treatment, the overall impact remains significant.

Screening Drives Survival

But long-term progress is meaningful. Screening can detect precancerous polyps before they develop into cancer. It can also identify cancer at an earlier stage, when treatment is more effective. When colorectal cancer is diagnosed at a localized stage, the five-year relative survival rate is about 90 percent. If the cancer has spread to distant organs, five-year survival drops to around 15 percent. Early detection dramatically changes outcomes.

Recent data show both meaningful progress and a troubling shift in colorectal cancer trends. Overall incidence declined by about 1% per year from 2013 through 2022, and mortality has fallen 56% since 1970, dropping from 29.1 per 100,000 to 12.7 per 100,000 in 2023, with death rates decreasing about 1.5% per year over the past decade due to screening and treatment advances. However, these gains are largely limited to older adults. Among individuals younger than 50, incidence has increased by 2.9% per year, and mortality in those under 55 has risen by about 1% annually since the mid-2000s. This widening age divide underscores the growing impact of colorectal cancer in younger populations, where later-stage diagnoses remain more common.

In response, screening guidelines were lowered to begin at age 45 for average-risk adults. Yet millions of eligible adults remain unscreened. Expanding access to screening remains one of the most powerful tools for reducing deaths.

Disparities also persist. Black Americans experience higher incidence and mortality rates compared with White Americans. Differences in access to screening, timely follow-up after abnormal results, and high-quality treatment contribute to these gaps. Where you live can also affect the quality of care you receive in preventive care and specialty services.

Advances in Treatment and Personalized Care

Treatment advances continue to improve survival for many patients. Improvements in surgery, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy have extended lives, particularly when cancer is detected earlier. Molecular testing of tumors increasingly guides treatment decisions, allowing care teams to match therapies to the specific biology of each patient's cancer.

Risk factors also remain part of the picture. Obesity, physical inactivity, diets high in processed or red meats, alcohol use, and smoking are all associated with increased colorectal cancer risk. Family history and inherited genetic conditions such as Lynch syndrome also elevate risk and may require earlier or more frequent screening. If you want to better understand how inherited genetic syndromes can influence cancer risk, read our blog, Understanding Hereditary Cancer Risk and How Kadance Supports Members, which explains how hereditary mutations are passed down and how genetic testing can help guide proactive care.

Prevention, Risk, and the Role of Genetics

The message this March is both hopeful and urgent. This year, more than 150,000 Americans will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer, and more than 50,000 will die from it. Yet it's one of the few cancers that can often be prevented, or caught early, through routine screening.

Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month is a call to action: get screened starting at age 45, watch for persistent symptoms, and advocate for equitable access to high-quality care. Take these steps because early detection saves lives, as the 2026 numbers clearly show.

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Resources:

Information taken from: American Cancer Society. Cancer Facts & Figures 2026. Atlanta: American Cancer Society; 2026