As A GI Doctor, colorectal cancer prevention is one of my top priorities and there is now very encouraging news on this front!  On August 12, 2014, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first at-home stool DNA colorectal cancer screening test for early detection called Cologuard. The test is effective in finding 92% of colon cancers in average risk patients. The FDA says Cologuard will help determine who is at risk of developing colorectal cancer at its earliest stages, when the cancer is still asymptomatic and  prognosis is the best.

The new Cologuard test is a non-invasive colon cancer screening test based on DNA science. It is easy to use, requires no special preparation and no time off work. The test identifies altered DNA and/or blood in stool, both of which are associated with the possibility of colon cancer or pre-cancer as DNA is continuously shed from cells in the intestinal lining and passed into stool. Both pre-cancer and cancer shed DNA, so it can be an early indicator of the presence of colon cancer, long before it would be present in the blood stream.

The significance of approving an at-home colorectal cancer test is it will help alleviate the barriers that are generally present with very early detection.  Prescribed by your doctor, appropriate patients can now, conveniently, take this test at home!  If the Cologuard screening comes back positive for abnormal cells, the patient should proceed with scheduling a colonoscopy.

Colorectal cancer primarily affects people age 50 and older and it is the second leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).  The CDC estimates that if everyone age 50 or older had regular screening tests and colonoscopies as recommended, at least 60% of colorectal cancer deaths could be avoided.

Sources: FDA Press Release on Cologuard: http://www.fda.gov/newsevents/newsroom/pressannouncements/ucm409021.htm

Cologuard Website: www.cologuardtest.com

When it comes to gastrointestinal health, know you are receiving the most cutting edge treatment and heartfelt care with Peyton P. Berookim, MD, FACG at Gastroenterology Institute of Southern California. Please call our office at 310.271.1122 or, for your convenience, Request an Appointment online with Dr. Berookim.