VIDEO: Early detection of CRC ‘extremely’ important in young individuals
In this video exclusive with Healio Gastroenterology, Swati G. Patel MD, MS, discussed the U.S. Multi-Society Task Force on Colorectal Cancer’s updated screening recommendations for colorectal cancer.
Patel, associate professor of medicine, division of gastroenterology and hepatology at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Center, said the task force — aligned with other societies such as U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, American Cancer Society and the National Comprehensive Cancer Network — recommends CRC screening should begin at age 45 years in all individuals.
She noted this was a change from the original recommendation of beginning average screening at age 50 years.
She said the burden of disease has increased, which contributed to the updated recommendation. In addition, the yield of screening of those aged 45 to 49 years was too similar to yield of screening in those aged 50 to 59 years.
“[Initiating] screening at age 45 may, in fact, be more beneficial than harmful to our patients,” Patel said.
Patel noted that of the 57 strategies assessed in the modeling studied used, 47 of them recommended starting screening at age 45 years. In addition, the beginning CRC screening at age 45 years was more cost-effective.
“[We] are confident that starting screening at age 45 has the potential to save and improve lives,” she said. “We can decrease the burden of disease in young individuals with screening, which has immense implications in terms of financial toxicity associated with cancer diagnosis and treatment, especially in otherwise young, healthy, productive members of society.”
She concluded with, “Early detection cancer at a curable stage and cancer prevention is extremely important in these young individuals.”
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