New colon cancer screening modalities

The American Cancer Society adds virtual colonoscopy and the fecal DNA test as colon cancer screening options.

I think it’s a bit premature. The data isn’t conclusive for either of these tests, and insurance coverage is spotty at best.

Comments

Davis Liu, MD
Although I understand why the American Cancer Society added these two tests in trying to get more Americans screened for colon cancer, I agree they haven’t been proven as effective as the traditional methods. How many of your patients already balk at a simple fecal occult test? How many will be thrilled when you tell them the stool DNA test only “requires an entire bowel movement be packed in a kit and sent to a laboratory”? The beneficiaries of the virtual colonoscopy could be outfits that encourage full body scans.
If anything, this news item may generate interest about colon cancer screening and give us the opportunity to educate the importance of simply getting checked.
all or nothing?
This statement is hardly premature:
“Many people are so squeamish about tests for the disease that they skip them entirely.”
Gold standard testing is worthless when it isn’t done at ALL, and the virtual colonoscopy picks up disease nearly as well as a standard colonoscopy. As a screen of asymptomatic people, it is WAY better than nothing.
The stool test doesn’t even require prepping.
Is it your position that people who avoid or would refuse colonoscopy should not have any screening, as a sort of risk punishment for their obstinance?

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