The American College of Physicians is recommending physicians begin screening for colorectal cancer in average-risk adults starting at the age of 50 in a new guidance statement published in the March 6 issue of ACP's Annals of Internal Medicine, according to a news release.
In the guidance statement, ACP also recommends the following:
- Physicians perform individualized assessment of risk for colorectal cancer in all adults.
- Physicians screen for colorectal cancer in high-risk adults starting at the age of 40 or 10 years younger than the age at which the youngest affected relative was diagnosed with colorectal cancer.
- Using a stool-based test, flexible sigmoidoscopy or optical colonoscopy as a screening test in patients who are at average risk.
- Using optical colonoscopy as a screening test in patients who are at high risk.
- Physicians stop screening for colorectal cancer in adults over the age of 75 years or in adults with a life expectancy of less than 10 years.
"We encourage patients to engage in shared decision making with their physician when selecting a colorectal cancer screening test so that they understand the benefits and harms," said Virginia L. Hood, MBBS, MPH, FACP, president of ACP, in the release. "The success of any screening program, especially colorectal cancer screening, is dependent on the appropriate testing and follow-up of patients with abnormal screening results as well as following up with patients for repeat testing at designated intervals."
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