“At 35, I Got Colon Cancer”: Here’s My Warning to Young, Healthy People

Photo courtesy of John B. Johnson Cancer is often viewed as a disease of the elderly, not something that affects younger, seemingly healthy individuals. However, colon cancer has been steadily increasing among young adults for years. In early 2023, the American Cancer Society (ACS) reported that 20 percent of colon cancer diagnoses in 2019 were in patients under 55—double the rate seen in 1995. Additionally, the incidence of advanced disease has risen by about three percent annually in people under 50. A 2024 ACS report further highlighted that colorectal cancer, which was the fourth leading cause of cancer death in men and women under 50 two decades ago, has now become the leading cause in men and the second leading cause in women (after breast cancer). As a result, experts from Yale have urged people as young as 20 to be aware of the warning signs. In an exclusive interview with BlackDoctor.org, colorectal cancer survivor John B. Johnson shared his journey from diagnosis to recovery, the challenges of treatment, and his newfound mission to raise awareness about the rising rates of colon cancer among young adults. In early 2023, Johnson, a fit and health-conscious 35-year-old training for an upcoming marathon,...