Dawson Creek’s James Van Der Beek’s death from bowel cancer at 48 has thrust rising cases among young adults back into the spotlight, sparking calls for better screening access and early detection strategies.
Rising cases
A large US analysis published in 2024 confirmed that early-onset colorectal cancer – cases diagnosed before age 50 – has been climbing steadily since the 1990s, with the worst jumps seen in people in their 20s and 30s. US National Cancer Institute data show incidence in under-50s more than doubling since the early 1990s, even as rates fall among older adults.
The trend reaches far beyond the US. WHO data reveal colorectal cancer rising in young people across at least 27 of 50 countries assessed, with England among those seeing the fastest growth. Annual increases of 3–4% have hit younger cohorts in the US, Australia and elsewhere – far outstripping older populations.
Possible causes
The drivers of these spikes remain unclear. Cancer Research UK has pointed to dietary changes, obesity, sedentary behaviour and high sugar intake as likely contributors, though this is far from the full picture.
Speaking to People Magazine in November 2024, James Van Der Beek reflected: “I’d always associated cancer with age and with unhealthy, sedentary lifestyles. But I was in amazing cardiovascular shape. I tried to eat healthy – or as far as I knew it at the time.” Early-life environmental exposures and microbiome shifts represent another leading theory.
However, screening gaps are central to the issue: most adults under 50 do not qualify for routine check-ups, while early symptoms are often dismissed as other conditions like irritable bowel syndrome, which delays diagnoses and leads to more advanced disease.
Implications for pharma
For the pharmaceutical industry, Van Der Beek’s case, alongside the growing body of epidemiological data, highlights the urgent need to strengthen diagnostic pathways for younger patients.
Two US-based firms Exact Sciences and Guardant Health are already advancing blood- and stool-based tests designed to detect cancer earlier and more conveniently. In a recent LinkedIn post, Exact Sciences highlighted Van Der Beek’s advocacy, noting that he “helped shine a light on colorectal cancer and the critical importance of early detection”.
Yet progress will hinge on whether pharma can move beyond its focus on late-stage therapies and commit more resources to early detection.
