March was Colon Cancer Awareness Month and even though we are well into April I wanted to pass along some important news to you related to colon cancer screening.
Just this past month AETNA become the first commercial insurer to cover colon cancer screening beginning at age 45, if recommended by a doctor.
This news comes on the heels of new guidelines published In May 2018 by the America Cancer Society (ACS), which updated its guidelines for colon cancer screening by recommending screening in average risk individuals beginning at age 45, as opposed to age 50. This decision was likely made based on rising rates of colorectal cancer in persons < age 50.
So, if you are age 45 or older, and have AETNA, you can start your colon cancer screening earlier.
AETNA’s bulletin can be found here.