Georgia dad warns of rising colon cancer in young adults

Colon cancer cases seen in younger people

Fayette Piedmont Hospital is seeing more cases of colon cancer in younger men and women. They now recommend people receiving colon cancer checks at age 45 instead of 50. Our Doug Evans spoke to a young family man, Jason Anderson, who received a colon cancer diagnosis at 43.

FAYETTE COUNTY, Ga. - There is a growing concern over colon cancer and the fact that, in the U.S., younger people are getting diagnosed with it.

What they are saying: Doctors at Piedmont Fayette Hospital, like those across the U.S., are seeing colorectal cancer in younger and younger patients.

The backstory:

Jason Anderson of Peachtree City was diagnosed at age 43 and is well into his cancer fight.

"I was like, this isn't supposed to happen, you know? It's like, it's not even on the radar. And then that's when the anger started fueling me, right? Just understanding that I've been living with this for x number of months, potentially years, unbeknownst to me until the diagnosis."

Jason’s cancer fight

What they're saying:

The bell at the oncology department at Piedmont Fayette Hospital reads, "The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph." The huge smile on Anderson’s face as he performed the ritual says a lot about him. His fight is not yet over. It’s a journey, but he says the tumor reacted well to radiation therapy. His message: If you are under 45, don’t be fooled into thinking colon cancer can’t affect you.

"The anger started to fuel me because I had been living with this for months or possibly years."

Jason’s purpose in coming forward with his story is kind of like ringing the bell for you, so maybe, just maybe, you won’t have to.

"I wish I had somebody push me to get screening at an earlier age, or get a colonoscopy at an earlier age, or just somebody to help me become aware of my options there, right? Because maybe I had, and if I had, this whole situation could have possibly been prevented," he said.

Jason and Marcie Anderson have three beautiful little girls. A cancer diagnosis is news that affects the whole family.

"And they were very understanding. Like, the way that they reacted to it was surprising to me. They just kind of took it like, ‘Okay, but he's gonna be fine.’ And we're like, 'Yeah, that's the plan.' The plan is to get Dad through this and let him be fine," she said.

Colon cancer

Dig deeper:

Colon cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths among men under 50 years old. It’s number two for women behind breast cancer. The recommendation is that men and women, starting at 45, should be screened with a colonoscopy.

Dr. Charles Woods is Jason’s radiation oncologist at Piedmont Fayette and says they are seeing patients even in their 30s; he cites diet as an important factor.

"Well, we think maybe it's because of diet, mainly. So more processed foods that we ate when we were growing up. So that's probably the leading reason for having higher rates, you know, in people in their 40s and even 30s sometimes."

Jason and Marcie Anderson discuss the emotional impact of a colon cancer diagnosis and the importance of early screening for younger adults in Fayette County on April 2, 2026. (FOX 5 Atlanta)

Rise in numbers: Research shows that colon cancer in the U.S. among people under 50 years old is rising 3% every year. A staggering 3 in 4 younger adults are diagnosed at an advanced stage (Stage III or IV). This is often because symptoms in younger patients are dismissed as hemorrhoids or IBS, or because they haven't reached the screening age.

"If you are in your 30s with a family history of someone in their 40s getting colorectal cancer, you should talk to your doctor about getting screened," he said.