ACS Drops Age Recommendation for Colorectal Screening

The American Cancer Society released new recommendations last week advising that starting at age 45, adults with an average risk for colon and rectal cancer be regularly screened. Previous guidelines called for screening to begin at age 50 but with a recent rise in colorectal cancers and deaths among younger adults, researchers have updated their cancer screening strategies.

Colorectal cancers are the world’s third most common cause of cancer-related deaths and studies have found that after steadily declining from 1970 to 2004, deaths among American adults between 20 and 54 are beginning to rise at a rate of 1 per cent each year. That means adults born later than the 1950’s are at significantly greater risk for colon cancer although researcher are not clear what’s behind this trend. Lifestyle changes including greater incidence of obesity, more consumption of processed foods, sedentary lifestyles or environmental exposures may be contributing factors.

Risk Factors for Colorectal Cancer

Consuming red meat
Being overweight or obese
Consuming processed meat
Being sedentary
Drinking alcohol
Being tall
Not eating enough dietary fiber, fruits and vegetables
Smoking
Inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s or Ulcerative colitis)

African Americans, Alaska Natives and people with a family or personal history of colon or rectal polyps are at higher risk for colorectal cancer and may require earlier screenings starting at age 40.

Source: World Cancer Research Fund

Depending on the preference of the patient and the availability of tests, the ACS society recommends that adults over 45 with an average risk have regular screenings with either a high-sensitivity stool-based test every year or a visual examination such as a colonoscopy every 10 years, a CT colonoscopy every 5 years or a flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 years.

Read more about the new American Cancer Society 2018 updated guidelines for colorectal cancer screenings for adults with average risk in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians.

Adults with average risk for colorectal cancers now advised to start screening at age 45. African Americans, Alaska Natives & those with family history should start by age 40. Share on X