Across the industrialized world, scientists are grappling with the sore in colorectal cancer striking people under fifty, and sometimes under thirty. This alarming trend has left researchers scratching their heads, with endocrine disruptors and environmental toxins emerging as potential culprits. But nailing down the exact reasons will require lengthy and costly studies, leaving us in the dark for now. For the unsuspecting young patients, the unthinkable diagnosis often comes as a gut punch, with late detection paving the way for an uphill battle against the disease.