Advocates Push to Lower Colorectal Cancer Screening Age as More Younger Adults Are Diagnosed

Health advocates across Canada are urging governments to rethink when routine colorectal cancer screening should begin. Right now, most provincial programs start at age 50 for people considered at average risk. But Colorectal Cancer Canada says that benchmark no longer matches what doctors are seeing and it’s time to lower the screening age to 45.

The call comes as cases among younger adults continue to rise. Once seen largely as a disease affecting older people, colorectal cancer is increasingly being diagnosed in those under 50. In the United States, the American Cancer Society reported earlier this year that colorectal cancer has become the leading cause of cancer-related death among people younger than 50. Canadian trends appear to be moving in the same direction, particularly among adults aged 45 to 49.

The Canadian Cancer Society projects that colorectal cancer will be the fourth most commonly diagnosed cancer in the country in 2025. It is also expected to rank as the third leading cause of cancer death for both men and women. An estimated 26,400 Canadians are likely to be diagnosed this year, and about 9,100 are expected to die from the disease roughly 10 per cent of all new cancer cases and deaths nationwide.

Despite those numbers, routine screening for average-risk adults still begins at age 50 in organized provincial programs. Advocates argue that this leaves many people in their mid-to-late 40s without access to early detection tools that could potentially save their lives.

Brandon Purcell, who works in prevention and early detection at the Canadian Cancer Society, says lowering the screening age would help catch more cancers at an earlier stage when treatment is often less invasive and survival rates are significantly higher.

Front-line physicians agree the trend among younger adults deserves serious attention. Dr. Harminder Singh, a Manitoba-based gastroenterologist, says while older adults still account for the highest overall rates, the steady increase in younger age groups cannot be overlooked. Raising awareness, he says, is just as important as changing policy.

Singh also stresses the importance of paying closer attention to people with a family history of colorectal cancer or inherited cancer syndromes. In some cases, those at higher risk are not being identified early enough. Better education about family medical history could prompt earlier screening for those who need it most.

Meanwhile, the federal government announced it will invest $41 million into 19 new cancer research teams studying improved approaches to prevention and treatment. The funding will support research into several cancers, including colorectal cancer. Part of the initiative involves working with researchers in Japan to explore connections between aging and early-onset colorectal and pancreatic cancers.

For health experts, the issue ultimately comes down to awareness and informed decision-making. Screening is a powerful tool, but people need to understand their options including the potential benefits and limitations so they can make choices that align with their personal health risks.

As more younger adults face a diagnosis once considered uncommon in their age group, advocates say Canada’s screening guidelines may need to evolve. The message from experts is clear: colorectal cancer is no longer only an older person’s disease, and early detection could make a life-saving difference.