A study by researchers at SUNY Upstate Medical University has found that rectal cancer deaths are increasing at a significantly faster rate than those of colon cancer among younger Americans, two to three times faster than those for adults aged 20 to 44. The study also found that for older millennials, specifically those aged 35 and 44, rectal mortality is projected to increase through 2035. The mortality gap between the two types of cancer is widening across all demographic. The research also highlighted the increasing diagnostic delay experienced by younger patients, with older patients starting treatment within a month of symptoms starting, and young adults facing an average seven-month delay before receiving care. The findings suggest current screening strategies may need to be reevaluated.