Britt, Ossoff File Bill to Expand Colorectal Screening Before 45 as Cases Rise 3%
Updated
Updated · WSFA · Aug 26
Britt, Ossoff File Bill to Expand Colorectal Screening Before 45 as Cases Rise 3%
1 articles · Updated · WSFA · Aug 26
Summary
The Colorectal Cancer Early Detection Act would fund states to expand screening for younger Americans, boost awareness and support healthcare professionals; the bipartisan bill is awaiting committee approval after being filed in early August.
Nearly 1 in 4 colorectal cancer diagnoses now occur in people ages 20 to 49, according to the Montgomery Cancer Center, which says cases in younger patients are rising about 3% year over year.
Susan Reed of the Montgomery Cancer Center said earlier detection can widen treatment options, citing her husband’s diagnosis at 42—8 years before he would have been eligible for routine screening.
Current guidance cited in the report starts screening at 45 for the general population, with earlier testing for people with family history or other elevated risk factors.
The push carries particular weight in Alabama, where colorectal cancer is the state’s second-leading cancer killer.