Health

ACS Lowers Recommended Colon Cancer Screening Age To 45

New guidelines now recommend anyone 45 or older get screened regularly for colon and rectal cancer.

ACS Lowers Recommended Colon Cancer Screening Age To 45
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The American Cancer Society has lowered the age recommendation for colon and rectal cancer screenings. 

The new guidelines now recommend anyone 45 or older get screened regularly. 

The ACS attributes the change to a significant rise in colorectal cancers in younger adults under 55 years old. 

And a recent study found adults born around 1990 are twice as likely to be diagnosed with colon cancer and four times as likely to be diagnosed with rectal cancer than adults born around 1950.

The organization says colorectal cancer "is the fourth most commonly diagnosed cancer among adults in the United States," but that early detection lowers the risk of death. 

Those at a higher risk may need to be screened before 45. 

Additional reporting from Newsy affiliate CNN.