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NewsCanada's cancer mortality in under-50s has dropped for nearly every major malignancy since 2000 — except colorectal cancer, which keeps climbing. Researchers say the fix may be simple: lower the screening age from 50 to 45, just as the U.S. did. Early U.S. data suggest the change is already paying off.
Canada has a lot to celebrate on the cancer front — mortality among adults under 50 has significantly declined for nine of the 10 deadliest malignancies since 2000, driven by tobacco cessation, sun-safety awareness, and advances in early detection and treatment. But there's one stubborn exception: colorectal cancer, where mortality has been rising at 1.1% annually, mirroring a troubling trend also seen in the U.S.
A new study published in JAMA Network Open analyzed Statistics Canada data from 2000 to 2024, covering cancer deaths in adults aged 20–49. While lung, lymphoma, melanoma, leukemia, breast, and several other cancers all saw meaningful mortality declines, colorectal cancer stood alone in moving in the wrong direction. Researchers, led by Dr. Darren Brenner of the University of Calgary, argue the most actionable response is to lower Canada's screening start age from 50 to 45 — a step the U.S. already took, with promising early results.
By the Numbers:
Why it matters: Most Canadian provinces still begin colorectal cancer screening at age 50. With U.S. data showing that screening at 45 catches more early-stage cancers and removes precancerous lesions at rates comparable to older age groups, Canadian health authorities face growing pressure to update their guidelines — and potentially save lives in the process.
