The change comes just over a year after ACS researchers reported a dramatic uptick in colorectal cancer cases in younger adults: Compared to people born in 1950, people born in 1990 have double the risk of ever developing colon cancer and four times the risk of ever developing rectal cancer, they found.
Starting screening earlier will hopefully limit the impact of colorectal cancer on this younger population, explains Nancy You, MD, an associate professor in the department of surgical oncology at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Not only are more younger people being diagnosed with colorectal cancer, they’re being diagnosed at later stages of the disease, when it’s more difficult to treat. “Hopefully, lowering the age [for screening] will have a long-term impact over the generations,” she says, in terms of detecting colorectal cancer at earlier stages and lowering death rates.
Other groups continue to recommend that colorectal cancer screening begin at age 50. “There’s a lot of attention being paid to this issue and a lot of discussion,” Dr. You says. “It may be that other societies follow suit, but I think the big impact of this guideline change is it will raise awareness and offer options to patients.”
Awareness is a big deal for the young adults, who are still years away from the new suggested starting age for screening, she adds. Those folks are tasked with monitoring themselves for potential colorectal cancer symptoms—and bringing those symptoms to a doctor. “Sometimes we’re too busy or don’t think about it potentially not being hemorrhoids,” Dr. You says.
If you're concerned about your risk, keep an eye out for colorectal cancer symptoms including blood in your stool, unexplained stomach cramps or weight loss, constipation or diarrhea that doesn’t get better, and a change in the timing, frequency, or amount of your poop.
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