Researchers: 50 Is Right Age for Colorectal Cancer Screening for Women

A new study presented at the 67th Annual Scientific Meeting of the American College of Gastroenterology suggests there is no evidence to support moving the screening guideline from age 50 to age 60 for women.

While the recommended age for Americans to begin having regular screening tests for colorectal cancer is 50, some researchers have previously suggested that women tend to develop colorectal polyps at a later age then men.

But researchers reported that an analysis of data from 1,328 consecutive women who had a screening colonoscopy for colorectal cancer revealed that the proportion of women in their 50s who had polyps was nearly as high as the proportion of women in their 60s.

Dr. Philip S. Schoenfeld of the University of Michigan said adenomas (polyps with malignant potential) were found in 18 percent of women aged 50 to 59 and in about 21 percent of women aged 60 to 69 -- a difference that he said does not appear to be clinically significant.

"Nearly all colorectal cancers develop from adenomatous polyps, and these polyps have malignant potential. Thus, most colorectal cancers can be prevented by removing these premalignant polyps from the body," said Schoenfeld.

"Our analysis demonstrated that women 50-59 years old and women 60-69 years old had similar prevalence of colon polyps." Schoenfeld added.

Other Sources: American College of Gastroenterology