This week the American College of Physicians (ACP) published potentially confusing clinical guidance recommending 50 as the age to start screening for colorectal cancer (CRC) for patients with average risk. This guidance flies in the face of guidelines from GI societies, USPSTF and the American Cancer Society.
Bottom line: it saves lives. To release contradictory guidance is reckless."
AGA stands united with other national advocacy organizations Fight CRC, Colon Cancer Coalition, Blue Hat Foundation, ABGH, ACG and ASGE in upholding the United States Preventive Services Task Force’s (USPSTF) recommendations for colorectal cancer screening starting at age 45.
Since the USPSTF lowered the colorectal cancer screening age from 50 to 45 in 2021, AGA has worked to communicate this change and raise awareness to reach average-risk patients aged 45 and older who have not been screened. This change was made in direct response to the increase in the incidences of early-age onset colorectal cancer (EAO-CRC) and aligns with the American Cancer Society’s 2018 recommendation that screening begins at age 45. These recommendations have become even more urgent since JAMA released a report stating that by 2030 colorectal cancer is projected to be the leading cause of cancer deaths in people under 50.
AGA will continue to work with our partners to spread the word that screening saves lives – and that it’s appropriate to start screening at age 45 for average-risk patients.
