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2d ago

Lowering Screening Age Spurs Early Colon Cancer Diagnoses in 45–49-Year-Olds

JAMA research shows that lowering the screening age to 45 has boosted early-stage colon cancer detection in adults 45 to 49 despite low overall screening rates.

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Overview

  • New JAMA analyses found that colon cancer diagnoses among 45- to 49-year-olds jumped by about 12% per year from 2019 to 2022, driven largely by rises in localized tumor detection.
  • Screening participation in this age group climbed 62% between 2019 and 2023 but only roughly one-third of eligible adults are up-to-date on recommended tests.
  • Automatically mailing fecal immunochemical test kits to 45- to 49-year-olds achieved over 26% screening uptake, outperforming opt-in and patient-portal invitations under 20%.
  • Early-stage detections confer a five-year survival rate of around 91%, reducing the need for more invasive treatments.
  • HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s proposal to dissolve the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force could eliminate no-cost insurance coverage for these preventive screenings.