Orange County Urges Residents 45 and Older to Get Colorectal Cancer Screened

Colorectal cancer caught before it spreads carries a five-year survival rate above 90 percent. Caught after it has reached distant organs, that rate drops dramatically. That gap drove Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus and the Orange County Department of Health to issue an urgent advisory Tuesday calling on every resident 45 and older to schedule a screening without delay.

"Proper screening for colorectal cancer and other cancers can save lives," Neuhaus said in the county's statement.

The advisory reflects a shift in national guidelines that has not yet translated into universal behavior change. The American Cancer Society lowered the recommended screening start age for average-risk adults from 50 to 45 in 2018, citing a troubling rise in early-onset colorectal cancer diagnoses. The United States Preventive Services Task Force updated its guidance to match. Yet screening rates in the 45-to-49 age group have remained stubbornly below targets, leaving a significant share of the population unprotected precisely during the years the new recommendations were designed to reach.

Two options exist for getting screened. A colonoscopy, performed by a gastroenterologist, is the most comprehensive: a physician can detect and remove precancerous polyps in a single procedure, stopping cancer before it starts. At-home stool-based tests offer a noninvasive alternative that can be completed on a periodic schedule without a clinic visit. A primary care provider can help determine which method fits a patient's age, health history, and risk level.

People with a family history of colorectal cancer or certain bowel conditions should not wait for the standard age threshold. Those groups may require earlier and more frequent screening on an individualized schedule.

Cost should not be a reason to delay. Most insurance plans, including Medicare, cover colorectal cancer screening with no out-of-pocket cost for eligible patients. Uninsured Orange County residents can access free or low-cost screening through New York State's Cancer Services Program by calling 1-866-442-CANCER (2262) to find a participating provider in the region.

The Department of Health flagged underserved communities as a specific priority in its outreach, recognizing that lower screening participation in those areas has historically translated into later-stage diagnoses and worse outcomes.

KNOW THE WARNING SIGNS: DO NOT WAIT FOR A SCHEDULED APPOINTMENT

Contact a doctor promptly if any of these occur: blood in or on the stool or rectal bleeding; a persistent change in bowel habits lasting more than a few days; ongoing abdominal cramping, pain, or bloating that does not resolve; a feeling that the bowel does not fully empty; or unexplained weight loss and unusual fatigue.

To book a screening: ask a primary care provider which test fits your health profile. Insured patients should confirm that screening is covered before scheduling, as most plans apply no copay for preventive colonoscopies or approved stool tests. Uninsured residents should call New York State's Cancer Services Program at 1-866-442-CANCER (2262) for a free appointment at a participating local provider.