More adults age 45 to 49 are being diagnosed with early-stage colorectal cancer — and that's actually a good sign, according to new research published in JAMA.

It suggests that the recommendation — which requires health insurers to cover the screening at no cost to the individual — has translated into catching cancer earlier, when it's more treatable and survivable.

Why it matters: The uptick coincides with the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force adopting a recommendation to start screening people with average risk for colorectal cancer at age 45, down from 50.

State of play: The U.S. saw a 50% relative increase in the incidence of early colorectal cancer in adults in their mid-to-late 40s between 2021 and 2022, according to research led by the American Cancer Society.

After 15 years of nearly flat growth, early colorectal cancer cases in the age group started to rise significantly in 2019, per the research.

The cancer society started recommending the expanded screening in 2018, and the task force approved its own recommendation in 2021.

Source:Axios