The American Cancer Society (ACS) released some exciting new updates in the area of Colorectal Cancer (CRC) Screening this past May. So we sat down with AONN+ Board of Trustees member Andi Dwyer, MPH, Director of the Colorado Cancer Screening Program, University of Colorado Anschutz to learn what’s new and what it means for our patients.
Here’s what we learned:
What has changed with CRC screening?
The American Cancer Society released updated colorectal cancer (CRC) screening guidelines on May 27. The updates include the addition of:
- the new generation of Cologuard stool test
- a new multi-targeted stool RNA test (ColoSense)
- and the FDA-approved Shield blood-based test
This is the first time the ACS has recommended a blood-based test for a cancer screening.
Is the blood-based test a good option for all patients?
The blood-based screening test for CRC is available to people who won’t do a stool test or colonoscopy. This test is not yet as sensitive as other cancer screening tools at detecting abnormal or cellular changes for prevention.
The stool test and colonoscopy remain the most effective tools for early detection.
Is there a blood-based test for other types of cancer?
Multi-cancer blood screening tests are in development. At this time, they are not included on any of the cancer screening guidelines. It's exciting to see advancements in science but it might be a while before blood tests are fully utilized for prevention of cancers.
Anyone who would like more information can check out these additional resources:
