Colorectal Cancer – Screenings advised to begin at age 45.

October 27, 2020 – The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (Task Force) posted a draft recommendation statement on screening for colorectal
cancer. For the first time, the Task Force is recommending that screening start at age 45. These recommendations apply to adults without symptoms and who do not have a personal history of colorectal polyps, or a personal or family health history of genetic disorders that increase the risk of colorectal cancer.

Colorectal cancer is a devastating disease and is the third leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States. Despite strong evidence that screening for colorectal cancer is effective, about a quarter of people ages 50 to 75 have never been screened.

“Unfortunately, not enough people in the U.S. receive this effective preventive service that has been proven to save lives,” says Task Force chair Alex Krist, M.D., M.P.H. “We hope that this recommendation to screen people ages 45 to 75 for colorectal cancer will encourage more screening
and reduce people’s risk of dying from this disease.”

Black adults get colorectal cancer more often than other populations and are more likely to die from this disease, a disparity brought home by the recent death of “Black Panther” actor Chadwick Boseman from colon cancer at the age of 43. The Task Force recognizes this disproportionate risk and encourages clinicians to offer recommended colorectal cancer screening to their Black patients beginning at age 45.

“New science about colorectal cancer in younger people has enabled us to expand our recommendation to screen all adults starting at age 45, especially Black adults who are more likely to die from this disease,” says Task Force member Michael Barry, M.D. “Screening earlier will help
prevent more people from dying from colorectal cancer.”

According to the American Cancer Society, lowering the screening age from 50 to 45 makes some 20 million Americans newly eligible for this type of preventive screening.