American Cancer Society Lowers Colorectal Cancer Screening Age Guideline
Recently, the American Cancer Society lowered the age at which patients at average risk for colorectal cancer should be screened from 50 to 45.
The guideline is being updated because between 1994 and 2014, the number of people under 55 diagnosed with colon cancer increased by 51 percent.
Colorectal Cancer in
2018Average Risk
Patients are at average risk for colorectal cancer if they do not or have not had:
- Personal or family history of colorectal cancer or specific polyps
- History of inflammatory bowel disease
- Colorectal cancer syndrome
- Prior radiation treatments to the abdomen or pelvic area
The types of colorectal cancer screenings available include stool tests and physical exams of the colon and rectum, like a colonoscopy.
Screenings Save Lives
Deirdre Hart, MD, FACS, FASCRS, Lincoln Surgical Associates' colon and rectal surgeon, highly recommends colonoscopy. "With a colonoscopy, we want to find colon pathology either before it becomes a cancer or as early as possible in its development," she said. One of the services Dr. Hart offers at Lincoln Surgical is screening colonoscopy.
To learn more about what Lincoln Surgical provides to diagnose and treat colorectal cancer and other gastroenterological diseases—including colonoscopy and surgery—visit www.lincolnsurgical.com/colon-anorectal-surgery.