Moncton 
The Canadian Cancer Society is urging provinces and territories to begin routine colorectal cancer screening earlier, recommending that the starting age drop from 50 to 45 for people at average risk.
Credit: National Cancer Institute/ Unsplash
The call follows growing evidence that the disease is increasingly affecting younger adults in Canada. Rates among people under 50 have climbed significantly in recent decades, with the likelihood of diagnosis now estimated to be two to two-and-a-half times higher than for earlier generations at the same age.
New modelling by Canadian researchers suggests that lowering the screening age could prevent more than 15,000 colorectal cancer cases and 6,100 deaths over the next 45 years.
“Current colorectal cancer screening guidelines are failing to meet the evolving needs of people under 50,” said Brandon Purcell, Advocacy Manager of Prevention and Early Detection at the Canadian Cancer Society. “When the context changes, our healthcare systems must change with it.”
Colorectal cancer is the fourth most commonly diagnosed cancer in Canada and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths, behind lung cancer. Experts say earlier screening could help detect the disease sooner. When identified early, survival rates are about 90 per cent, compared with less than 15 per cent when cancer is detected at later stages such as stage III or IV.
Screening usually begins with a fecal immunochemical test (FIT), a stool test that checks for traces of blood.
For Wylie Butler, the issue is personal. Butler was diagnosed at 48 after months of occasional bleeding he initially dismissed. By the time he sought medical care, the cancer had advanced, leading to three surgeries, sepsis and months away from work.
“I never thought colorectal cancer was something that could happen to me,” Butler said. “If screening had started at 45, my cancer might have been found sooner.”
Across Canada, organized screening programs generally target adults aged 50 to 74. So far, no governments have announced plans to lower the starting age despite the new evidence.
