Key Insights:
- New colorectal cancer screening options, including blood-based and more accurate stool-based tests, are emerging, yet they still do not match the effectiveness of colonoscopy, often referred to as the “gold standard.” These new methods aim to increase screening uptake, especially among those reluctant to undergo colonoscopies.
- PCPs play a critical role in increasing colorectal cancer screening rates. They are pivotal in educating patients about their screening options, which can significantly affect patient willingness to undergo screening.
- Innovations in screening, like the SHIELD blood-based test and next-generation multitarget stool DNA tests, show promise. However, while they offer improved ease and potentially lower costs, they vary in sensitivity and specificity, particularly in detecting early-stage cancer and precancerous lesions.
While new screening options for colorectal cancer are developing rapidly, offering potentially easier and more patient-friendly methods, colonoscopy remains the most thorough screening tool available. Primary care providers are essential in navigating these options to ensure the highest levels of early detection and preventive care possible.