US Expands Colorectal Cancer Screening with At-Home and Blood Tests
The American Cancer Society updated its May 2026 colorectal cancer screening guidelines to add two new options—an at-home stool test and a blood-based test—while maintaining colonoscopy as a primary option. Average-risk individuals should start screening at age 45 and continue until 75 (or longer if advised by a doctor). The stool and blood tests are intended to improve access and early detection, though many doctors’ offices may not yet offer them; ultimately, the best test is the one that gets done, with colonoscopy remaining the default for those with higher risk or abnormal results.
