The US Preventive Services Task Force said on Tuesday that adults should now be screened for colorectal cancer at the age of 45, because cases of the disease have increased in people over 40 in the past few years.
This The latest recommendations from the medical team It is pointed out that colorectal cancer screening can bring moderate net benefits to adults aged 45-49, and reduce the number of colorectal cancer cases and deaths.
The researchers said that it is strongly recommended that adults between the ages of 50-75 continue to be screened for colorectal cancer, on the grounds that it can bring huge net benefits to people of this age.
The working group stated that for adults between the ages of 76-85, colorectal cancer examinations should continue to be carried out on a case-by-case basis. Doctors should selectively provide screening for adults of this age group based on the patient’s overall health, previous screening history and screening preferences. Researchers have found that for people of this age who have been screened, the net benefit of colorectal cancer screening is very small.
The volunteer medical team said that for adults 86 years and older, all colorectal cancer screenings should be stopped.
The task force’s latest guidelines apply to all adults, including those who have no symptoms, no personal medical history of colorectal polyps, or personal or family health history of genetic diseases that increase the risk of colorectal cancer.
The independent group’s recommendations also include direct visualization and stool-based examinations to screen for colorectal cancer.
Dr. Martha Kubik, a member of the working group, said: “Based on evidence, there are many available tests that can effectively screen for colorectal cancer, and the correct test is the test that can be done.” Say. “To encourage screening and help patients choose the best test for them, we urge primary care clinicians to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the various recommended options with patients.”
The latest guidelines of the US Preventive Services Task Force are published as there has been an increase in colorectal cancer cases among adults between the ages of 40 and 49, although the risk is much lower among adults under 50. Of the new cases of colorectal cancer, nearly 94% occur in adults over 45 years of age.
According to the working group’s estimates, more than 10% of new colorectal cancer cases occur in people under the age of 50. Researchers also found that 20 out of every 100,000 people aged 40 to 49 are new cases of colorectal cancer. From 2000-2002 and 2014-2016, the incidence of colorectal cancer in adults 40-49 years old has increased by nearly 15%.
The latest trend in colorectal cancer among adults under 50 years of age has been found in white and Hispanic/Latino adults.
According to the task force, colorectal cancer is the third leading cause of cancer deaths in men and women in the United States. It is estimated that by 2021, nearly 53,000 Americans will die of colorectal cancer.
The disease is most commonly diagnosed in adults aged 65-74. Researchers found that the incidence of new colorectal cancer cases was 105.2 per 100,000 elderly people aged 60 and over.
The working group found that blacks are more likely to develop colorectal cancer than people of other races and races, and are more likely to die from the disease. Researchers found that the incidence of colorectal cancer was 43.6 cases per 100,000 black adults. The task force encourages doctors to contact black patients to ensure that they are screened regularly and receive high-quality screening.
The task force also found that the incidence is higher among American Indian and Alaskan Native adults, men, people with a family history of colorectal cancer, and people with risk factors such as obesity, diabetes, long-term smoking, and unhealthy drinking. .
In 2016, it was found that more than a quarter of eligible adults between the ages of 50-75 had never received colorectal cancer screening. As of 2018, 31% of eligible adults have not yet been screened for colorectal cancer. Researchers say these numbers are too high.
Dr. Michael Barry, vice chairman of the task force, said: “In the United States, too many people do not receive this life-saving prevention service.” “We hope this new recommendation for people aged 45 to 49, plus our The long-term recommendation of screening for people aged 50 to 75 will prevent more deaths from colorectal cancer.”
