Colorectal Cancer: Early Detection and Routine Screening

Colorectal cancer is the fourth most commonly diagnosed cancer among adults in the United States. Currently, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends routine screening for adults ages 50 to 75.

However, the American Cancer Society recently modified their recommendation to begin at age 45 for those with average risk. The guideline was changed based in part on new data showing increased rates of colorectal cancer in younger populations.

Companies like Clinical Genomics are focused on improving the sensitivity and accuracy of screening tests, as well as providing options that may lead to early detection of residual and recurrent colorectal cancer in patients who have undergone primary treatment.

We get the facts from Dr. Roberto Rodriguez-Ruesga, a colon and rectal surgeon at Texas Oncology, and hear one woman’s personal story of being diagnosed with colon cancer at only 43 years old.