Colorectal Cancer Canada is recommending provinces and territories lower the routine colorectal cancer screening age to 45 for average-risk Canadians. This change is urgently needed to reflect rising rates of the disease among younger adults. In the United States, colorectal cancer is now the leading cause of cancer-related death among individuals under 50. This trend is mirrored in Canada, with incidence rates steadily increasing among adults aged 45 to 49. Colorectal cancer is expected to be the fourth most commonly diagnosed cancer in Canada and the third leading cause of cancer death.
Despite the rise in diagnoses, all provincial screening programs still begin at age 50, leaving a growing at-risk population without access to organized screening. A lower screening age will catch more cancers early, when they are easier to treat and survival rates are higher. Experts note that the trend is increasing in all younger age groups and needs attention and increased awareness, particularly for those with a family history of colorectal cancer. The federal government is investing $41 million in new cancer research teams to study new approaches to preventing a wide range of cancers, including colorectal cancer.