Promising New Non-Invasive Test for Colon Cancer

Colon cancer is very treatable when caught early.

But if you wait until you’re already experiencing symptoms, you may be too late.

The best way to treat colon cancer is to catch it early—and that means getting routine screening.

However, not all screenings are created equal.

Researchers have just unveiled a new test that could be the least invasive way to test for colon cancer yet.

Colonoscopies are the gold standard of colon cancer screening in the mainstream community.

But there’s nothing “gold” about them in my book.

While colonoscopies can catch colon cancer early, they still have risks. A recently published review estimated that for every 10,000 screening colonoscopies, eight people suffer a bowel perforation, and 16 to 36 have severe bleeding requiring hospitalization.

One in 3 patients undergoing colonoscopies report minor adverse events such as abdominal pain, bloating, and abdominal discomfort in the first two weeks following the procedure.

However, early detection is still the best way to survive colon cancer—so we have a catch-22.

That’s why researchers are developing a new screening method that uses a simple blood test to identify colon cancer.

A recent clinical study found that this test correctly identified colon cancer in 83 percent of people who had confirmed colon cancer but without symptoms.

However, it had false positives 10 percent of the time.

It’s a promising step in the right direction, but I wouldn’t be satisfied with an 83 percent detection rate.

For now, my preferred option is a stool test called Cologuard. It’s been shown to detect 92 percent of colon cancers and 42 percent of precancers.

If this test is positive, I recommend getting a colonoscopy and staying vigilant with ongoing screening until it becomes negative.

Talk with your own doctor about all of these options to find out what the best option is for YOU.

P.S. Colonoscopies aren’t the only cancer screening I’d skip. Subscribers to my newsletter Natural Health Response can CLICK HERE to find out my take on the 5 most common cancer screenings. Not a subscriber yet? No problem. Click the red button below to find out how to join us.

SOURCE:

“A Cell-free DNA Blood-Based Test for Colorectal Cancer Screening,” N Engl J Med 2024; 390:973-983, DOI: 10. 1056 / NEJMoa2304714