American Cancer Society Adds 3 New Colon Cancer Tests as 20 Million Eligible Americans Remain Unscreened
Updated
Updated · abcnews.com · May 27
American Cancer Society Adds 3 New Colon Cancer Tests as 20 Million Eligible Americans Remain Unscreened
12 articles · Updated · abcnews.com · May 27
More screening options—including a blood test, new stool kits and an FDA-approved at-home test—were added to ACS colorectal cancer guidelines for average-risk adults ages 45 to 75.
20 million-plus eligible Americans remain unscreened, and the society said broader choices could lift testing rates for a cancer that is highly preventable and more treatable when caught early.
colonoscopy remains the gold standard and is recommended every 10 years, while other methods are repeated every one, three or five years; blood-based testing is framed as a last resort because it is less sensitive.
1 in 5 new colorectal cancer cases now occurs in people under 55, up from about 1 in 10 in the mid-1990s, adding urgency as cases rise in younger adults.
The guidance applies only to average-risk people without symptoms or relevant family or personal history, and ACS urged patients to choose a covered test with a healthcare provider.
Do easier at-home cancer tests risk missing early signs that only a colonoscopy can find?
As colon cancer strikes younger people, why do insurance barriers still block life-saving diagnostic tests?
Could testing city wastewater for cancer DNA become our first line of defense against outbreaks?
The 2026 ACS Colorectal Cancer Screening Guidelines: How New Non-Invasive Tests and Policy Shifts Aim to Close the Screening Gap
Overview
The American Cancer Society’s updated colorectal cancer screening guidelines, released in May 2026, mark a major strategic shift to improve early detection and expand access. By emphasizing patient choice and offering a broader range of screening options—including convenient home-based stool tests—the guidelines aim to make screening more accessible and encourage greater participation. This approach allows individuals to select the method that best fits their needs, reflecting ongoing efforts to use new non-invasive technologies. Ultimately, these changes are designed to reach more people and make early detection of colorectal cancer easier and more effective.