Key TakeawaysA new proposal from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) suggests lowering the recommended age to begin colon cancer screening to age 45.The American Cancer Society already recommends adults begin colorectal screening at age 45.In 2018, only 68.8% of adults reported being up-to-date with colorectal cancer screening, according to the CDC.

Key Takeaways

A new proposal from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) suggests lowering the recommended age to begin colon cancer screening to age 45.The American Cancer Society already recommends adults begin colorectal screening at age 45.In 2018, only 68.8% of adults reported being up-to-date with colorectal cancer screening, according to the CDC.

While the proposal is still in draft form and, therefore, not yet finalized, the USPSTF says the recommendation comes on the heels of an increased number of cases of colorectal cancers in young adults. While adults younger than 50 are still at a lower risk for developing colon and rectal cancers, the group says the uptick in cases amongst people under 50 cannot be ignored.

“Colorectal cancer is the third leading cause of cancer death for both men and women, with an estimated 53,200 persons dying from colorectal cancer in the United States in 2020,” the USPSTF states. “Colorectal cancer is most frequently diagnosed among persons ages 65 to 74 years.”

Are At-Home Colon Cancer Screening Tests a Reliable Option During COVID-19?

However, the USPSTF also points to a study published in theJournal of the National Cancer Institutethat shows colon and rectal cancer incidence in 45-year-old adults is now nearly equivalent to that of a person who is 50.

“The screening recommendation in the past was 50 years of age for an average-risk patient, that is, a patient with no family history,”Harish Gagneja, MD, a board-certified gastroenterologist in Texas, tells Verywell. “USPSTF is considering the change because there has been a significant increase in colorectal cancer risk in patients younger than 50 years of age.”

What This Means for YouEarly screening is the best way to decrease the risk of colorectal cancers. Check with your doctor about your risk for colorectal cancer and/or your risk level to better assess your need for particular screenings.

What This Means for You

Early screening is the best way to decrease the risk of colorectal cancers. Check with your doctor about your risk for colorectal cancer and/or your risk level to better assess your need for particular screenings.

What’s Next?

Now that the USPSTF posted the draft for review, they will seek public comment until November 23. From there, they will issue a final recommendation.

If you noticed the grade “B” on the proposal, you might be wondering what that means. The USPSTF uses a grading system to determine its recommendation for a particular treatment or service. A grade B means the task force recommends the service. “There is high certainty that the net benefit is moderate or there is moderate certainty that the net benefit is moderate to substantial,” the site notes.

“In clinical practice, grade A and grade B recommendations are essentially the same," Gagneja adds. “They are based on the level of the studies that have been conducted as well as recognizing that the benefits of a colonoscopy outweigh the risks.”

What Does the American Cancer Society Recommend?

This recommendation isn’t brand new in terms of colorectal cancer screening recommendations. The American Cancer Society (ACS) lowered its recommendation to begin screening at age 45 (down from its previously recommended age 50) in 2018.

Chadwick Boseman’s Death Highlights Colorectal Cancer Health Disparities

The organization also notes that certain risk factors are factored into the ultimate recommendation for screenings. The ACS defines those risk levels into two categories: average risk and increased or high risk.

You’re considered average risk if you do not have:

If you have any of the above you’re considered increased or high risk. People with these risks need to start colorectal cancer screenings before age 45, be screened more often, and get specific tests.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about one-third of American adultshave not been screened for colorectal cancers as recommended. In 2018, the CDC said that meant only 67.2% of adults reported being up-to-date with colorectal cancer screening.

Reasons for not getting screened, according to the CDC, include:

Talk to your doctor about getting screened for colorectal cancer if you’re within the recommended age group or have an increased or high risk of developing the condition.

7 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.Colorectal Cancer: Screening.

Murphy CC, Sanoff HK, Stitzenberg KB, et al.Re: colorectal cancer incidence patterns in the united states, 1974–2013.J Natl Cancer Inst. 2017;109(8). doi: 10.1093/jnci/djx104

Bailey CE, Hu C-Y, You YN, et al.Increasing disparities in age-related incidence of colon and rectal cancer in the united states, 1975-2010.JAMA Surg. 2015;150(1):17-22. doi:10.1001/jamasurg.2014.1756

U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.Grade Definitions.

American Cancer Society.American Cancer Society Guideline for Colorectal Cancer Screening.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Use of Colorectal Cancer Screening Tests.

Meet Our Medical Expert Board

Share Feedback

Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit

Was this page helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit

What is your feedback?