The American Cancer Society has updated its guidelines for colorectal cancer screenings, saying now that screening should begin at age 45 for people at average risk.
Specifically, the update recommends that adults age 45 and older with an average risk of colorectal cancer should partake in regular screening with either a high-sensitivity stool-based test or a visual exam. The updated guidelines were influenced by research showing a 51 percent increase in colorectal cancer among those under age 50 since 1994.
Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the U.S. It occurs most frequently among adults over 65.
