Colorectal Cancer Screening (COL-E)

The percentage of persons 45–75 years of age who had appropriate screening for colorectal cancer.

Why it Matters

Colorectal cancer represents 8% of all new cancer cases and is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States. Screening can be effective for finding precancerous lesions (polyps) that could later become malignant, and for detecting early cancers that can be more easily and effectively treated. However, in 2016, 26% of eligible adults in the U.S. had never been screened for colorectal cancer, and in 2018, 31% were not up to date with screening ¹.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends screening for adults 45–49 years of age (B Recommendation) and for adults 50–75 years of age (A Recommendation). Potential screening methods recommended by the USPSTF include an annual guaiac-based fecal occult blood test (gFOBT); annual fecal immunochemical test (FIT); multitargeted stool DNA with FIT test (sDNA FIT) every 3 years; CT colonography every 5 years; flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 years; flexible sigmoidoscopy every 10 years plus FIT every year; and colonoscopy every 10 years ¹.

Historical Results – National Averages