Innovative Testing Option Proven to Close Wisconsin’s Screening Gap by Making it Easier for Patients to Get Screened for Colorectal Cancer
Wisconsin — In recognition of National Cancer Prevention and Early Detection Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of preventive screening and early detection, a new, innovative blood test for colorectal cancer is transforming early detection and making it easier for Wisconsinites to get screened.
Guardant Health, Inc., a trusted leader in blood-based cancer tests for more than 10 years, is working with healthcare providers throughout Wisconsin to expand access to its Shield™ blood test, the first and only blood test approved by the FDA as a primary screening option for colorectal cancer for average-risk individuals ages 45 and older.
The Shield test offers more than 54 million Americans – one in every three people – who are behind on their recommended screenings a quicker and easier way to screen that fits their lifestyle and preferences by avoiding the inconvenience and discomfort associated with traditional screening methods. As part of its mission to close America’s colorectal cancer screening gap and help more Americans get screened, Guardant Health recently launched Shield Across America, a nationwide mobile screening tour designed to increase colorectal cancer screening awareness and education in over 100 communities across the country.
CRC is the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths in Wisconsin and the second leading cause nationwide, though it’s highly treatable when caught early, with a 91 percent five-year survival rate for patients with early-stage, localized colorectal cancer. This year, the American Cancer Society estimates that 2,680 Wisconsinites will develop and 880 will die from CRC, underscoring the need for more people to take action and get screened.
“National Cancer Prevention and Early Detection Month serves as an important reminder that early and regular cancer screening can save lives,” said Sam Asgarian, MD, vice president of clinical development for screening at Guardant Health. “The Shield test offers patients in Wisconsin a quicker and easier screening option designed to address the barriers that keep millions from completing their recommended colorectal cancer screenings and meet people where they are. By making it easy to screen for CRC with just a blood draw, we could improve early detection rates in Wisconsin and ensure that more Wisconsinites get screened.”
Early detection and access to available screening options remain the most effective tools in colorectal cancer prevention, yet many Americans delay screening due to inconvenience and discomfort. The Shield test helps to remove the primary barriers that prevent people from getting screened, and new research from the Harris Poll confirms that over three-quarters of screening-eligible Americans said they would be less likely to avoid or delay a colorectal cancer screening knowing that there is an FDA-approved blood test option available. By removing the primary obstacles that stand between patients and life-saving early detection, Shield empowers residents of Wisconsin to take action on their health.
The American Cancer Society and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend that people at average risk of colorectal cancer start regular screening at age 45. This April, healthcare providers across Wisconsin are ready to help eligible patients take that first step and get screened.
“The single most important tool we have to fight cancer is getting your recommended cancer screening,” said Tiffany Koehler, a veterans advocate and cancer survivor. “The Shield blood test by Guardant Health makes screening for Wisconsin’s third-deadliest cancer easier, helping increase early detection and save lives.”
The Shield test is intended for individuals at average risk for colorectal cancer, age 45 or older. For eligible patients in Wisconsin, it is offered by prescription through a doctor or other healthcare professional and can be completed during a routine visit. For complete product information about the Shield blood test, including full safety information, visit ShieldCancerScreen.com.
Shield is covered by Medicare, the Veterans Affairs Community Care Network and TRICARE, for active-duty service members, and is commercially available across the U.S.
About Shield
Shield is a methylation partitioning cell-free DNA (mp-cfDNA) non-invasive, blood-based screening test that detects alterations associated with colorectal cancer in the blood. It is intended as a screening test for individuals at average risk for the disease, age 45 or older, and is not intended for individuals at high risk for colorectal cancer. The Shield test can be considered in a manner similar to guideline-recommended non-invasive CRC screening options and can be completed during any healthcare visit. A positive Shield result raises concern for the presence of colorectal cancer or advanced adenoma and the patient should be referred for colonoscopy evaluation.
About Guardant Health
Guardant Health is a leading precision oncology company focused on guarding wellness and giving every person more time free from cancer. Founded in 2012, Guardant is transforming patient care and accelerating new cancer therapies by providing critical insights into what drives disease through its advanced blood and tissue tests, real-world data and AI analytics. Guardant tests help improve outcomes across all stages of care, including screening to find cancer early, monitoring for recurrence in early-stage cancer, and treatment selection for patients with advanced cancer. For more information, visit guardanthealth.com and follow the company on LinkedIn, X (Twitter) and Facebook.
