Ross Aldred, a 43-year-old who maintained a healthy lifestyle, was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer that had spread to multiple organs, including his liver, spleen, lungs, and lymph nodes. His case, documented in a viral social media post, underscores a growing concern among medical professionals: colon cancer rates are increasing among adults under 50.
Once considered a disease primarily affecting older adults, colon cancer diagnoses in individuals under 50 have risen by approximately 50 percent since the 1990s. Doctors report treating increasingly younger patients who are otherwise healthy, with many cases being diagnosed at advanced stages. The actor James Van Der Beek died at age 48 earlier this year, just over two years after his diagnosis.
Aldred's journey to diagnosis was marked by a series of concerning symptoms that were initially misidentified. Lumps on his neck, which he initially dismissed as a sign of a throat infection, were later found to be a symptom of the advanced cancer. While seeking medical attention for these lumps, he experienced severe abdominal pain, vomiting, and eventually vomiting blood, leading to his hospitalization where scans revealed growths on his liver.
Initial reassurances that the liver growths were likely benign were followed by an examination that confirmed stage 4 colon cancer. Aldred's diagnosis came as a shock, particularly given his adherence to a vegan diet, regular exercise, and abstention from alcohol for three years.
The aggressive nature of Aldred's cancer was further highlighted by the discovery of an 11-inch tumor blocking his colon. Complications arose when tumors in his liver began blocking bile ducts, leading to jaundice and a high risk of liver failure. This condition precluded him from receiving standard chemotherapy, as his liver could not safely process the drugs. A high-risk procedure was performed to drain toxins and improve his liver function, followed by a recovery from sepsis.
Genetic testing revealed Aldred's cancer subtype as BRAF, a particularly aggressive form that responds well to targeted drug combinations. This subtype accounts for about one in 10 colon cancers and was also diagnosed in Dame Deborah James, who died from the disease at age 40 in 2022. While a combination of encorafenib and cetuximab alongside chemotherapy has shown to double life expectancy in international studies, this treatment is not routinely available through the UK's National Health Service until chemotherapy has failed.
Accessing this advanced treatment privately would cost approximately $140,000 per year, prompting Aldred and his husband to launch a fundraising campaign. The appeal has since gained significant traction, raising over $300,000 with support from celebrities.
Scientists are exploring various explanations for the rise in early-onset colon cancer. While lifestyle factors like ultra-processed food consumption are considered, research is also investigating potential links to environmental toxins and changes in gut bacteria that may occur much earlier in life, even in childhood or before birth. Exposure to colibactin, a gut toxin produced by certain E. coli strains, has been associated with genetic mutations found more frequently in younger colon cancer patients. Other potential contributors include antibiotics, pesticides, and microplastics, all of which can alter gut bacteria balance.