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Many good options exist but no one-size-fits-all , so it ’ s best to talk to a specialist about early screening and diagnosing any symptoms

The logic is that screening may lead to the removal of precancerous tissue before it develops into cancer or at least to early diagnosis , which often means cancer is easier to treat .

The condition affecting the bowel is the third most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer death in the world , according to the World Health Organization ( WHO ), which recorded more than 1.9 million new cases and over 930,000 deaths in 2020 . These numbers are estimated to significantly increase in the next decades .

Considering how common the disease is , the average person might want to start asking a number of hard questions . Should I get screened ? Which screening option is best ? At what age should I do it ? What are the symptoms ? The answers aren ’ t easy as many different screening techniques are out there , and , as is often the case in medicine , the right approach mostly depends on individual needs and your risk tolerance .

Colonoscopy is a common screening tool for colorectal cancer

Who ’ s a good candidate for screening Average-risk individuals , or those who have no medical reason to do early tests , are usually recommended to get screened for colorectal cancer when they turn 50 and then regularly until 75 . This is because the benefits are thought to outweigh potential risks from screening .

“ That ’ s the grade A recommendation in the US ,” Dr Jason Dominitz , a gastroenterologist and director for gastroenterology and hepatology at the US �epartment of Veterans Affairs , told Global Health �sia��aci�c . “ We have a grade B recommendation for 45 to 49 years old , meaning you should still recommend it , but the evidence is not as strong . For people aged 76 to 85 , screening may be a good idea depending on a number of factors , including how healthy they are and what prior screening they had .”

Health authorities in other countries similarly recommend that people without specific risk factors start screening at the age of 50 , including in Singapore , Malaysia , Thailand , and Germany . The UK currently offers screening for people aged �0 to 74 but is in the process of lowering the age threshold to 50 . Norway recommends people start screening at 55 .

The logic is that screening may lead to the removal of precancerous tissue before it develops into cancer or at least to early diagnosis , which often means cancer is easier to treat .

However , people at increased risk of developing the condition are advised to go for early screening . This is the case for those who have a family history of colorectal cancer or advanced polyps ( non-cancerous growths in the colon ). For instance , if you have a firstdegree relative ( parent or sibling ) who was diagnosed with colorectal cancer before the age of 60 , you are considered at increased risk for the disease and may be recommended to start screening at 40 , though this could vary from country to country . Also deemed to be at increased risk are people whose family member was diagnosed at 60 or older , but they are usually given more leeway on which test to undergo .

“ Since this is complicated , the message for the

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