A year ago, the American Cancer Society and the U.S. Multi-Society Task Force suggested that people aged 45 to 49 should also be screened for colorectal cancer (CRC).
Before this, screenings were usually only recommended for people 50 and over.
The Call to Better Use Our Resources
In an article in the journal Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Dr. Thomas Imperiale made an important call. He wants people, doctors, and healthcare systems to use colonoscopy resources wisely.
Dr. Imperiale is a research scientist at the Regenstrief Institute. He says that people aged 45 to 49 at average risk for CRC should consider other ways of screening.
Colorectal Cancer Screening is Important
Dr. Imperiale, who is also a gastroenterologist, stated, “Colorectal cancer screening is very important. But we need to make sure the right people are getting the right screening. Not everyone aged 45 to 49 needs a colonoscopy.”
Alternatives to Colonoscopy
He explained, “FIT testing at home each year is a good choice for most people in this age group. This test looks for blood in your stool and doesn’t cost much.
Another option is the stool multi-target DNA and blood test every three years. These methods help us save colonoscopy resources for those who really need them. We can only do so many colonoscopies each year.”
Who Should Get Screened?
About 70 to 80% of the people who should be screened for CRC are at average risk. But Dr. Imperiale said we still don’t know who in the 45 to 49 age group is actually getting screened.
Is it the healthy ones who exercise, eat well, and view screening as a personal health duty? Or is it those who smoke, have diabetes, or are overweight and thus are at higher risk?
He added, “If we suggest easy, non-invasive home screening tests instead of a colonoscopy, more young people might get screened. This would be a good idea until they turn 50 or maybe 55.”
The Impact of Lowering the Screening Age
The article also noted that reducing the screening age by five years means 20 million more people in the U.S. now need screening.
Dr. Imperiale suggested a “hybrid” approach. This would mean non-invasive screening for younger people at average risk and colonoscopy for older people at average risk.
If you care about colon health, please read studies about whether aspirin could lower colon cancer risk in older people, and this drug may lower death risk in colon cancer.
For more information about colon health, please see recent studies about how to protect yourself from colon cancer, and results showing this vitamin level in the body linked to colon cancer risk.
The study was published in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
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