The American Cancer Society has updated its guidelines to include blood-based screening tests for colorectal cancer for adults aged 45 and older who are at average risk and have not completed visual exams or stool tests. This recommendation comes in response to increasing colorectal cancer rates, which are expected to represent 47% of new cancer cases in Canada by 2026. Medical professionals, including Dr. Yoo-Joung Ko, emphasize that blood tests can be more convenient for patients compared to traditional colonoscopies, which require extensive preparation. The change aims to encourage more individuals to participate in screening programs. Currently, P.E.I. is the first province to lower the screening age to 45, with Ontario and Nunavut also considering similar adjustments. Research indicates that lowering the screening age could prevent over 15,000 colorectal cancer cases and 6,100 deaths over the next 45 years. The Canadian Cancer Society advises that individuals aged 45 to 74 at average risk should undergo stool tests every two years.