Colorectal cancer is a serious disease that’s rising in prevalence, especially among people who are under age 50. In turn, some organizations in Canada are calling on provinces and territories to lower the routine screening age by half a decade.
On Wednesday, the Canadian Cancer Society called on jurisdictions to start colorectal cancer screening at age 45 rather than the current routine age of 50. It added that people under 50 are 2 to 2.5 times more likely to be diagnosed with colorectal cancer than previous generations.
“That growth is something that’s very concerning for us and we think that it’s time for governments to react to that so that we can catch more of these cancers early,” Brandon Purcell, advocacy manager for prevention and early detection at the Canadian Cancer Society, told the Canadian Press.
This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Contact a qualified medical professional before engaging in any physical activity, or making any changes to your diet, medication or lifestyle.
Currently, routine screening sees people age 50 and older get a FIT. This is a fecal immunochemical test, where the patient swabs their stool at home and mails it to a lab. If the sample tests positive for blood, that person will get a colonoscopy referral to check for cancer.
If a person is under 50 and has certain risk factors or symptoms, they’ll be referred for proactive colonoscopies. But for anyone else, screenings aren’t typically done.
The cancer society noted that lowering the colorectal cancer screening age to 45 will help patients receive early detection of the disease. If caught early, the organization explained that survival rates can be as high as 90 per cent. However, advanced stages of colorectal cancer drop that survival rate to less than 15 per cent.
Canadian actress Catherine O’Hara died at age 71 in January after privately battling a rectal cancer diagnosis, but not all colorectal cancer cases begin after age 50. (Rodin Eckenroth/FilmMagic)
(Rodin Eckenroth via Getty Images)
While colonoscopies can find tumours, the procedure can also detect precancerous polyps and health-care professionals can remove them before they become dangerous. President and CEO of Colorectal Cancer Canada Barry Stein, who survived a stage four colorectal cancer diagnosis, is also pushing for the routine screening age to be lowered to 45, and explained it takes polyps eight to 10 years to turn into cancer.
What exactly is colorectal cancer?
Colorectal cancer is cancer that affects the large intestine (colon) or the rectum (end of the colon). The two are grouped together because both organs are made of the same tissues, and they don’t have a border between them.
When cells in the colon or rectum no longer grow or behave normally, the changes may lead to non-cancerous tumours, precancerous conditions (i.e. adenomas) or colorectal cancer.
Does colorectal cancer only impact seniors?
Cancer doesn’t care what age you are, but in Canada, 93 per cent of colorectal cancer cases occur in people age 50 and older. Still, that doesn’t eliminate diagnoses in younger people.
Most recently, Dawson’s Creek actor James Van Der Beek died in February after being diagnosed at age 47 in 2024. Black Panther star Chadwick Boseman also died in 2020 at 43 from the disease, while Disney Channel alum Raven-Symoné’s younger brother, Blaize Pearman, died at age 31 from colon cancer in 2023.
Who’s at risk for colorectal cancer?
Colorectal cancer can affect anyone, but people living with inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis) are at an increased risk compared to the general population.
Colorectal cancer isn’t reserved only for people over age 50, and your risk increases if you avoid physical activity and live a sedentary life. (Getty Images)
(Photographer, Basak Gurbuz Derman via Getty Images)
Most people diagnosed are over age 50, and the risk increases with age. According to the Canadian Cancer Society, more men are diagnosed with colorectal cancer than women, and a family history of colorectal cancer is the most important risk factor. Other lifestyle risk factors include:
Not being physically active
Being overweight or obese
Smoking or drinking alcohol
A diet high in red meat or processed meats
What are the first signs and symptoms of colorectal cancer?
In its early stage, colorectal cancer may not show any signs because it’s very small. Symptoms may only arise when a tumour has grown into surrounding tissues or organs. It’s also important to note that other health conditions may present similar symptoms.
Dr. Monika Krzyzanowska, a medical oncologist at Toronto’s Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, told Yahoo Canada in a previous interview that one of the early signs of the disease is a change in bowel habits: “[People] may not be going as often [to the bathroom] as they usually do. The calibre of your stool may change. For example, it can become thinner or more narrow.”
She noted that abdominal pain, bleeding and unexplained weight loss are causes for concern, alongside iron-deficiency anemia: “They may be feeling tired, go see their family doctor and are found to be anemic. This can sometimes be an initial presentation of colon cancer.”
Some signs of colorectal cancer include diarrhea, abdominal pain, unexplained weight loss and changes to your stool or bowel habits. (Getty Images)
(Keeproll via Getty Images)
Colorectal cancer symptoms may include:
Stool that looks narrower than usual
Bright or very dark blood in the stool
Feeling like the rectum isn’t completely empty after a bowel movement, or bleeding from that area
Gas, abdominal cramps and feeling bloated
Why are colorectal cancer rates rising among young people?
No one can say for certain why colorectal cancer numbers are rising in young people. However, some experts theorize increased incidence rates could be linked to dietary or lifestyle factors.
A sedentary lifestyle, obesity, smoking, heavy alcohol use, low-fibre, high-fat diets, diets high in processed meats and other environmental factors have all been linked to colorectal cancer. But more research must be done to explain why people under 50 are now at an increased risk of developing the disease.
Canadian guidelines recommend fecal blood tests for adults aged 50 and over every two years if they’re not at high risk. (Getty Images)
(Klaus Vedfelt via Getty Images)Should younger people get screened for colorectal cancer?
Despite increased colorectal cancer rates among young people, Canada’s screening policies still recommend waiting until age 50 for average-risk adults. However, some studies note lowering the screening age “may be justified.”
While stool tests are no one’s idea of a good time, they save thousands of lives each year. In Canada, colorectal cancer is expected to be the fourth most commonly diagnosed cancer in 2025, with an estimated 26,400 new cases.
How can I get tested for colorectal cancer?
If you’re worried about possibly being diagnosed with colorectal cancer, speak to your primary-care provider. They should ask about any symptoms you have and provide a physical test. Based on this information, they may refer you to a specialist or try to rule out other health conditions.
An average-risk adult is someone between the ages of 50 and 74 with no first-degree relative — such as a parent, sibling or child — who has been diagnosed with colorectal cancer. If you have a personal history of colon cancer, ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease or other higher-risk factors, your doctor may suggest you begin screening early.
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