Higher colon cancer rates may reflect earlier screening success

A recent uptick in new colorectal cancer cases in the United States among a key age group appears to be due to catching them early with screening.

From 2004 to 2019, there was a steady annual rise in new colorectal cancers for those 45 to 49 years old. Then cases shot up dramatically from 2019 to 2022, spurred by a jump in early cancers. That time frame overlaps with the change to the recommended age to start screening, which went from 50 to 45. It’s likely that the recent increase is because colorectal cancers are being found at an early stage with screening in this age group, rather than a general rise in cases, researchers report August 4 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

The American Cancer Society updated its recommendation on the age to start screening in 2018, while the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force did so in 2021. During that time frame, new diagnoses of early colorectal cancer per 100,000 people grew from nine in 2019 to 12 in 2021 to 17.5 in 2022. That steep climb didn’t occur for diagnoses of advanced colon cancers for this age group.

A person can screen for colorectal cancer by having a colonoscopy or testing a stool sample, among other methods. Catching colorectal cancer early, before it spreads to other parts of the body, can make it easier to treat.