Knowledge gaps and barriers delay many Americans from getting screened for colorectal cancer, putting lives at risk.
Colorectal cancer is one of the most preventable forms of cancer, yet it has become the leading cause of cancer-related death among adults under 50, and it is the only one among the top five leading cancers where the death rate continues to climb in this age group. A sobering new national survey commissioned by the Colorectal Cancer Alliance suggests that widespread knowledge gaps and persistent barriers to screening are fueling the crisis.
“Colorectal cancer is highly preventable, and it’s usually cured when caught early,” said Richard Wender, M.D., medical advisor to the Colorectal Cancer Alliance and professor and chair of family medicine and community health at the Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania. “We can save lives by starting conversations sooner, taking symptoms seriously, and ensuring people have access to accurate information and screening options.”
The knowledge gap
The data, drawn from the Colorectal Cancer Alliance State of Screening Study conducted by Wakefield Research, reveal that more than half of Americans (52%) don’t know that colorectal cancer is largely preventable. The impact of that knowledge gap is striking: 96% of respondents said they would be more likely to get screened if they understood that screening could prevent the disease.
Early detection dramatically improves survival outcomes, yet more than 1 in 4 adults (26%) who were advised to get screened never followed through. The reasons are telling. Among adults who are hesitant about screening, cost was the top barrier at 48%, followed closely by fear and lack of knowledge about available options, each cited by 47% of respondents. Perceived discomfort or embarrassment (33%) and simply being too busy (30%) rounded out the list.
An overlooked solution
An overlooked solution is available for those who are at average risk, through your doctor, at your local pharmacy, or online. At-home stool-based screening tests, which require no prep, no sedation, and no time off work, offer a convenient screening option for those who are not at high risk. Yet, only half of Americans (50%) know that colorectal cancer can be screened for at home. Options like Cologuard, which detects 92% of colorectal cancers and some precancerous polyps, and the fecal immunochemical test (FIT), which detects 79% of colorectal cancers, are widely available and may be the key to reaching average-risk patients who would otherwise skip screening entirely. It’s worth noting that a positive result from any at-home test requires a follow-up colonoscopy, a fact unknown to 59% of Americans.
The Colorectal Cancer Alliance recommends screening beginning at age 45 for average-risk adults, and earlier for those with risk factors such as a family history, inherited genetic conditions, or inflammatory bowel disease. Symptoms, when they do appear, can include changes in bowel habits, rectal bleeding, abdominal discomfort, and unexplained weight loss, though the majority of cases present with no symptoms at all, making timely screening critical to survival.
The call to action
With colorectal cancer cases rising sharply among younger adults who are often diagnosed at later stages that are harder to treat, the Colorectal Cancer Alliance is working to accelerate research toward cures through its Project Cure CRC initiative.
Too many young people are dying of colorectal cancer, and more needs to be done. Screening is a critical component, but this disease also needs more funding, research, and action to save lives. To learn more, get involved, and support lifesaving advancements, please visit colorectalcancer.org/curecrc.
