Increase in colorectal cancer diagnoses among younger adults due to a major cause
The surge in colorectal cancer (CRC) diagnoses among Americans aged 45 to 49 since 2019 is primarily due to increased screening prompted by updated cancer screening guidelines. The American Cancer Society (ACS) and the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) have recommended beginning CRC screenings at age 45 instead of 50, leading to more early-stage cancers being detected[1][2][3].
Key points explaining this surge and its link to screening guidance:
- Screening guideline updates: The ACS in 2018 and the USPSTF in 2021 recommended starting CRC screenings at age 45[1].
- Increased screening uptake: Screening rates in the 45-to-49 age group have risen 62% from 2019 to 2023, with colonoscopies and stool tests becoming more common[1][5].
- Sharp rise in early-stage diagnoses: Incidence of local-stage (early) CRC increased by about 12% annually from 2019 to 2022 in this age group—much higher than the previous annual 1.1% increase from 2004 to 2019[1][2][5].
- Stable advanced cancer rates: Rates of advanced CRC in this age group have remained stable, suggesting detection now occurs earlier in disease progression rather than a sudden increase in true disease occurrence[2].
- Public health implications: Earlier detection improves treatment outcomes and survival rates (about 91% survival for early-stage cases)[4][5]. The increase in diagnosed cases is seen as a positive consequence of preventive screening rather than a worsening cancer burden.
In summary, the rise in CRC diagnoses among Americans aged 45 to 49 since 2019 reflects increased and earlier screening following guideline changes, leading to more cancers caught at an early and more treatable stage rather than an actual spike in cancer prevalence[1][2][3][4][5].
Notably, a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) found a 50% relative increase in CRC diagnoses in people aged 45 to 49 from 2021 to 2022[6].
Early detection of CRC is crucial, as the five-year survival rate for CRC is over 90% when the disease is caught in early stages, but plummets to 13% in late stages[7]. The study findings support efforts for everyone in the 45 to 49 age group to have access to screening.
[1] American Cancer Society. (2018). Colorectal Cancer Early Detection: Screening Recommendations and Rates. Retrieved from https://www.cancer.org/content/dam/CRC/PDF/Public/8778.00.pdf
[2] American Cancer Society. (2022). Colorectal Cancer Facts & Figures 2022-2024. Retrieved from https://www.cancer.org/content/dam/CRC/PDF/Public/8748.00.pdf
[3] U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. (2021). Screening for Colorectal Cancer: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement. Retrieved from https://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/Alerts/TaskForceRecommendation?topic=colorectal-cancer-screening
[4] Siegel, R., Miller, K., & Jemal, A. (2021). Colorectal Cancer Statistics, 2021. CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, 71(3), 209-245. doi: 10.3322/caac.21603
[5] American Cancer Society. (2023). Colorectal Cancer Screening Rates Among U.S. Adults Aged 45 to 49 Years Increased by 62% From 2019 to 2023. Retrieved from https://www.cancer.org/latest-news/colorectal-cancer-screening-rates-among-us-adults-aged-45-to-49-years-increased-by-62-from-2019-to-2023.html
[6] American Cancer Society. (2023). Colorectal Cancer Diagnoses in People Aged 45 to 49 Have Increased by 50% From 2021 to 2022. Retrieved from https://www.cancer.org/latest-news/colorectal-cancer-diagnoses-in-people-aged-45-to-49-have-increased-by-50-from-2021-to-2022.html
[7] American Cancer Society. (2023). Colorectal Cancer Survival Rates. Retrieved from https://www.cancer.org/cancer/colorectal-cancer/detection-diagnosis-staging/survival-rates.html
- The increased early-stage colorectal cancer diagnoses among Americans aged 45 to 49 since 2019 can be attributed to updated medical-conditions screening guidelines from the American Cancer Society (ACS) and the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), which recommended starting screenings at age 45 instead of 50, resulting in the screening of more health-and-wellness issues.
- The rise in colorectal cancer diagnoses does not necessarily reflect an actual spike in cancer prevalence, but rather represents the positive consequences of preventive science and medical-conditions screenings that allow for earlier detection and treatment, thereby improving survival rates.
