Red flags for colorectal cancer that warrant screenings before 45 years of age

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is now the leading cause of cancer death in adults under 50 and the second leading cause of cancer death in the U.S., highlighting the importance of routine screenings.

Adults 65 and younger comprise nearly half (45%) of all new cases — a significant increase from 27% in 1995, according to a report from the American Cancer Society.

"Once considered a disease that primarily affected people over 50, we are now seeing increasing diagnoses in patients in their 20s...