Michael Sapienza, Chief Executive Officer at the Colorectal Cancer Alliance, shared on LinkedIn:
“Abbottott and Freenome have officially launched SimpleScreen CRC, a new blood-based colorectal cancer test. Any time a new screening option is available, it’s a chance to remind people of the importance of getting checked.
Our mission at the Colorectal Cancer Alliance is to end this disease, and to do that, we must move the needle on screening rates. But more options only help if people understand what each one can and can’t do.
Through our Screen Smart initiative, we guide patients according to U.S. Preventive Services Task Force A/B ratings – the benchmark that reflects the strongest evidence and determines what insurance is required to cover:
Colonoscopy still sets the standard. It’s the only test that finds precancerous polyps AND removes them in the same visit, stopping cancer before it starts.
Stool-based tests are a proven, at-home alternative for average-risk adults with no symptoms or risk factors. Multitarget stool DNA tests (Cologuard Test) catch 43% of precancer, multitarget stool RNA tests (ColoSense) catch 41.3%, and high-quality FIT tests catch 24%. Cologuard and FIT are both widely covered by insurance.
Blood draws are not a substitute for the tests above, and should only be used by patients who won’t do a colonoscopy or a stool test – they shouldn’t be anyone’s first choice.
One rule applies across the board: any abnormal result, stool or blood, means a follow-up colonoscopy. A positive result is the beginning of the process, not the end of it.
Take our free quiz at getscreened.org to receive a screening recommendation based on your age, risk, and history.”
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