American Cancer Society Adds 2 Colorectal Screening Tests, Keeps Starting Age at 45
Updated
Updated · ScienceAlert · Jun 4
American Cancer Society Adds 2 Colorectal Screening Tests, Keeps Starting Age at 45
3 articles · Updated · ScienceAlert · Jun 4
Summary
May 2026 guidelines from the American Cancer Society add two colorectal cancer screening options: an at-home stool test taken every three years and a blood-based test offered in a doctor's office.
Rising colorectal cancer rates in adults under 50 drove the update, while the society kept its 2018 recommendation that average-risk adults begin screening at 45 and continue until 75 or longer if advised.
colonoscopy still remains the preferred test and the only recommended option for people with symptoms, family history, or genetic risk; any positive stool or blood result also requires a colonoscopy.
Blood testing is reserved for patients who refuse colonoscopy or stool screening because it is less sensitive, and many clinics may not yet offer the new tests.
The update aims to widen access and boost screening uptake as early colorectal cancer often shows no symptoms.
With cancer rising in the young, why do we still wait until age 45 for screening?
New, easier cancer tests are available, but do they create a false sense of security?
What in our modern environment is fueling the surge of colorectal cancer in young adults?
2026 ACS Colorectal Cancer Screening Guidelines: New Tools, Rising Early-Onset Risk, and the Push for Equitable Early Detection
Overview
The 2026 American Cancer Society guidelines mark a major step forward in colorectal cancer prevention by expanding screening options and emphasizing early detection. With colorectal cancer now the leading cancer killer among adults under 50 and over 20 million eligible Americans still unscreened, the update continues to recommend starting screening at age 45 and introduces new at-home stool and blood-based tests. These changes aim to make screening more accessible and encourage broader participation, addressing the urgent need to close screening gaps and reduce cancer deaths through earlier diagnosis and improved follow-up care.