Colonoscopy Still Beats New Blood Tests at Spotting Colon Cancer (U.S. News)

A new blood test for colorectal cancer screening, recently approved by the FDA, offers an alternative for individuals reluctant to undergo traditional colonoscopies, though it is less effective at detecting and preventing the disease. In a study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, researchers found that blood tests performed every three years are associated with 2.5 times more colorectal cancer deaths compared to colonoscopy screenings every ten years. While the blood test detected over 83% of colorectal cancer cases, it only identified precancerous polyps in 13% of cases, making it significantly less effective for early detection and prevention than a colonoscopy, which can remove polyps during the procedureights that while blood tests are better than no screening, they are less cost-effective and could increase healthcare costs if widely adopted over more proven methods. The blood test may be most beneficial for those who would otherwise avoid screening altogether, according to lead researcher Dr. Uri Ladabaum of Stanford Medicine.