Perspectives S36/Ep18 The Best Cancer Screening is the test that is completed

Colorectal cancer has jumped from being the fourth leading cause of cancer death in men and women under 50 years old to first in men and second in women in less than two decades. The American Cancer Society recommends that people at average risk of colorectal cancer start regular screening at age 45. By increasing screening rates in people 45 to 49 years old, including awareness of convenient, noninvasive stool tests, we can help reverse this trend. Dr. Bruce Waldholtz of the American Cancer Society tell us that in Georgia, only 64% of people aged 45 and older are up to date on their colorectal screening. Among adults aged 45 to 50, 80% are not getting screened. ACS estimates 4,940 people in Georgia will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer in 2024 and 1,660 will die from the disease. Screening can detect polyps and other problems before they become cancer and detect colorectal cancer early when it may be easier to treat. Early-stage colorectal cancer typically does not cause symptoms, which is why planning a screening schedule based on patient risk is so important.