Canada's Cancer Screening Gap: The Push to Screen for CRC at 45

MONTREAL, QC – February 26, 2026 – A major national health advocacy group is calling on Canadian provinces and territories to overhaul their colorectal cancer screening guidelines, citing an alarming rise in the disease among younger adults. As Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month kicks off, Colorectal Cancer Canada (CCC) has intensified its campaign, urging governments to lower the routine screening age for average-risk individuals from 50 to 45.

The push comes amid mounting evidence that the landscape of the disease is changing. Once considered a cancer that primarily affects older populations, colorectal cancer (CRC) is now the leading cause of cancer-related death for people under 50 in the United States, according to a landmark study by the American Cancer Society. Health experts in Canada confirm a similar, troubling trend north of the border, with incidence rates steadily increasing among adults in the 45-to-49 age bracket.

"The data is unequivocal: colorectal cancer is affecting younger Canadians at an alarming rate," said Barry D. Stein, President & CEO of Colorectal Cancer Canada, in a statement. "Delaying changes to our provincial and territorial screening programs is a risk we cannot afford. Every year of inaction leads to later-stage diagnoses, more aggressive treatments, and preventable loss of life."

A Widening Gulf Between Science and Policy

Despite the shifting demographics of the disease, Canada's public health policies have remained static. Currently, every province and territory follows guidelines that recommend routine screening—typically a simple, at-home fecal immunochemical test (FIT) every two years—begin at age 50 for those at average risk. This leaves a five-year gap where a growing number of Canadians are developing the disease without the safety net of an organized screening program.

This discrepancy places Canada behind international counterparts like the United States, where major health organizations have already recommended lowering the screening age to 45. The call from Colorectal Cancer Canada aims to close this gap and align national practices with the evolving scientific reality.

However, the path to reform appears challenging. Inquiries made to provincial health ministries reveal a cautious stance. Officials in several key provinces, including Ontario, British Columbia, and Quebec, have indicated they are not currently planning to lower the screening age, stating they continue to monitor research and follow the guidance of the Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care (CTFPHC). This policy inertia creates a significant hurdle for the #Screenat45 campaign, which argues that the evidence for change is already here.

To press the issue, CCC is mobilizing patients, survivors, and healthcare professionals for a national advocacy day on Parliament Hill. The event, titled "This March we March," is scheduled for March 10 and aims to bring the human stories behind the statistics directly to federal policymakers, urging them to champion the cause with their provincial counterparts.

The Human and Economic Cost of Delay

Advocates argue that the cost of inaction is measured in both lives and dollars. Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in Canada, claiming approximately 9,100 lives annually. An estimated 26,400 Canadians will be diagnosed this year alone, with about half of them being of working age. On average, 72 Canadians are diagnosed and 25 die from the disease every day.

Crucially, when detected early through screening, the five-year survival rate for colorectal cancer is about 90%. However, when it metastasizes to distant parts of the body, that rate plummets to below 15%. Later-stage diagnoses not only carry a devastating human toll but also place a significant financial strain on the healthcare system through complex surgeries, extended chemotherapy, and long-term care.

To quantify the benefits of earlier screening, CCC has collaborated with the Brenner Research Group at the University of Calgary. Leveraging advanced epidemiological modeling, their projections demonstrate that lowering the screening age to 45 would detect thousands of additional cancers at an earlier, more treatable stage. The data suggests that such a policy change would not only improve survival rates but also prove cost-effective by reducing the immense long-term expense of treating advanced disease.

Failure to modernize these guidelines, advocates warn, risks leaving a new generation vulnerable and widens the chasm between evidence-based medicine and public health practice, resulting in preventable human and economic consequences.

A Call for Awareness and Action

While the policy debate continues, Colorectal Cancer Canada is urging all eligible Canadians to take immediate action. The organization reminds those between the ages of 50 and 74 to stay up to date with their biennial screening using the FIT kit, a simple and non-invasive test that can be completed at home. Despite its high treatability when caught early, too many Canadians are not current with their recommended screenings.

To amplify their message throughout March, the organization is launching several public awareness initiatives. Canadians are encouraged to participate in Dress in Blue Day on March 6 and to share photos on social media to spark conversation. Landmarks across the country will also be lit up in blue to honour those affected by the disease.

By fostering a national "colonversation" using hashtags like #SaveButts, #GetScreened, and #Screenat45, the campaign hopes to break down stigma and empower individuals with the knowledge that screening saves lives, all while continuing its determined push to ensure that life-saving access begins at 45.