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| Persistent abdominal pain can be an early sign of colon cancer, especially if it's accompanied by rectal bleeding. atracurium_/Getty Images |
In a rare win for cancer prevention, doctors and researchers are celebrating a promising shift: more people in their 40s are getting screened for colon cancer and it's working. New data released today shows a sharp rise in early-stage diagnoses among younger adults, offering new hope in the fight against one of America’s deadliest cancers.
“It’s the first time we’ve actually had really good news,” said Rebecca Siegel, a cancer epidemiologist and senior scientific director of surveillance research at the American Cancer Society. Speaking to Truth Sider just before the findings were published Monday in JAMA, Siegel admitted the progress brought her to tears. “I start tearing up, because it’s so exciting to see earlier diagnosis in these young people.”
For years, Siegel and other researchers have watched with alarm as colon cancer diagnoses in people under 50 steadily increased. Worse, most of those cases were being caught late after the cancer had already spread leaving patients with fewer options and lower survival rates.
“I meet these inspiring young survivors at conferences,” Siegel said. “And then they’re gone. It’s so sad.”
In 2018, the American Cancer Society responded by lowering its recommended age to start colon cancer screening from 50 to 45. But it wasn’t until 2021, when the US Preventive Services Task Force followed suit, that the recommendation became a nationwide insurance standard requiring insurers to cover colonoscopies and stool tests for people 45 and older.
The results have been swift and significant.
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| Blood on your toilet paper can be an early warning sign of colon cancer. Svitlana Hulko/Getty Images |
Just three years later, screening rates among 45- to 49-year-olds have jumped dramatically, and so has the detection of early-stage, highly treatable colon cancers. Between 2004 and 2019, the rate of cancer detection in this age group grew by just 1% annually. After the ACS recommendation and insurance mandate, that rate surged rising by 12% every year from 2019 to 2022.
In 2019, only 21% of Americans aged 45 to 49 had undergone any form of colon cancer screening, including stool tests or colonoscopies. By 2023, that number had grown to 33% a remarkable gain in just four years.
Most of the cancers now being found are at a local stage, meaning they haven't yet spread to other parts of the body and are more easily treated.
"Lives are being saved," Siegel said.
Should You Get Screened for Colon Cancer?
Early diagnosis can make a world of difference. When colon cancer is caught before it spreads, treatment is often simpler, less invasive, and much more successful. Despite this, fewer than 40% of people under 50 have been screened and most who have access to screening tend to have private insurance.
Siegel emphasized that screening doesn’t have to be expensive or complicated. At-home options like the fecal immunochemical test (FIT) are affordable, simple, and effective. These stool tests can be mailed directly to patients and require no dietary restrictions or bowel prep.
“For this 45- to 49-year-old age group, these are young, active people raising kids, juggling work. Stool testing is a great option,” Siegel said.
That said, the majority of people under 45 don’t need to start screening unless they fall into higher-risk groups.
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| FIT tests are generally covered by insurance for people over 45, and you can do them at home. LetsGetChecked |
Here’s who should consider talking to a doctor about early testing:
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Anyone with a family history of colorectal cancer.
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People experiencing possible early symptoms of colon cancer, such as:
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Blood in the stool or on toilet paper.
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Persistent changes in bowel habits whether that’s increased constipation, diarrhea, or both.
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Frequent abdominal pain or cramping.
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Signs of iron deficiency anemia, which may show up in a routine blood test.
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“If you have these symptoms and your doctor dismisses them, follow up. Get a second opinion. Be your own advocate,” Siegel urged. “I’ve heard so many stories where the next doctor found cancer.”
A New Chapter in Colon Cancer Prevention
After years of watching colon cancer quietly rise in younger adults, Siegel says this shift feels monumental. More people are getting screened. More cancers are being caught early. And more lives are being saved.
For once, there’s momentum in the right direction.
