2026-05-07 from ctvnews.ca

Doctors and cancer survivors are applauding a move by Ontario to lower the age for colorectal cancer screening as the disease continues showing up in younger patients.

“It’s a change that we’ve been waiting for, and we’re excited to hear about from the government,” Dr. Sami Chadi told CP24.

Chadi, a colorectal surgeon at the University Health Network, said the change is “a really big step forward” in colorectal cancer screening.

“We’re seeing a large increase in the risk of colorectal cancer in younger patients, especially over the past 10 to 20 years,” Shadi said. “So having this lower age of screening is going to be quite helpful for us in detecting tumors earlier and detecting precancerous tumors at an earlier stage, so that they can be managed effectively.”

Cancer Care Ontario recently said in new guidelines for physicians that the province is lowering the age for colorectal cancer screening from 50 to 45 due to an increase in younger people being diagnosed what the illness.

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