Recommended age for colon cancer screening lowered to 45

SANDUSKY — A task force that deals with colorectal cancer has lowered the recommended age for colorectal cancer screening from 50 to 45. The United States Multi-Society Task Force on Colorectal Cancer represents the American College of Gastroenterology, the American Gastroenterological Association and the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. The task force announced Monday it now recommends colorectal cancer screening for people ages 45 to 49 who have an average risk, such as no family history of colon problems and no gastrointestinal symptoms. The task force said its other recommendations are unchanged from 2017. Colorectal Cancer screening is recommended for everyone 45 to 75 who hasn't already begun screening. Screening for people 76 to 85 is not automatic and depends on various factors, including risk and life expectancy. Screening for people older than 85 isn't recommended. The recommendations from the task force fit recent advice from other groups. For example, in May, the United States Preventive Services Task Force also recommended lowering the age for colorectal cancer screening from 50 to 45 and declared that everyone ages 45 to 75 should get the screening. Dr. Cameron Ditty, a gastroenterologist associated with Firelands Health, told the Register in May that the recommendations are in response to how common colon cancer, a leading cause of death, has become among younger people. "It is affecting younger and younger people," Ditty said. Colon cancer is a common cause of illness and death in the U.S. "In the United States, colorectal cancer is the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths in men and in women and the second most common cause of cancer deaths when men and women are combined," the American Cancer Society states. "It's expected to cause about 52,980 deaths during 2021." The most common form of screening for colorectal cancer is the colonoscopy. As medical tests go, colonoscopies are particularly useful, Ditty said. Colon cancer develops from polyps, and the doctor performing the procedure can remove any polyp that is found. "It offers not only a way to diagnose, but to prevent as well," Ditty said. While getting ready for a colonoscopy cannot be described as fun, Ditty said it's less onerous now, as preparations have been developed that reduce the amount of liquid that needs to be drunk the day before. "It still doesn't taste great, but it's a lot easier," he said. "It's not that big jug."