A national survey report examined how many U.S. adults between the ages of 50 and 75 were following official guidelines for colorectal cancer screening. The guidelines recommend regular screening for people in this age group. The survey provides a look at screening rates at a single point in time.
The survey found that about 67% of adults in this age range were up to date with their recommended screenings. The most common method was a colonoscopy, with about 61% reporting they had one within the past 10 years. The report did not provide details on other screening methods or the total number of people surveyed.
It is important to know this is an observational survey from 2018. It tells us what percentage of people reported being screened, but it does not explain why some people get screened and others do not. The data is a useful snapshot, but it does not track changes over time or prove what causes people to get screened.
Readers should see this as a general measure of screening participation several years ago. It highlights that a significant portion of the eligible population was getting screened, but also that a gap remains. For current, personalized advice on cancer screening, it is always best to talk with a doctor.