Not ‘an old person’s disease’: Advocates call for lowering colorectal cancer screening age – CTV
June 17, 2025
Health advocates are pushing for all provinces and territories to lower the screening age for colorectal cancer to 45 as a growing number of younger adults are getting the disease.
“Our objective is to ensure that young Canadians do not ignore the signs and symptoms just because of their age and that they are aware of their family medical history and risk level, as we call on our provincial and territorial health ministries to lower the screening age for colorectal cancer throughout the country to 45,” said Barry Stein, president and CEO of Colorectal Cancer Canada, in a statement on Tuesday.
Colorectal cancer screening is currently offered for those at “average-risk” across Canada. Those at average risk are aged 50 to 74 who don’t have symptoms and personal or family history of the following:
colorectal cancer
certain polyps
genetic conditions like Lynch syndrome
inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn’s or colitis.
