As October Marks National Health Literacy Month, Innovative Testing Option Offers Hope to Close the Colorectal Cancer Screening Gap
Wisconsin —October is National Health Literacy Month, a time dedicated to empowering individuals to access, understand and use health information to make informed decisions about their health, including staying current with recommended cancer screenings and learning about the new screening tools available to them.
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in Wisconsin and nationwide – even though it’s highly treatable when caught early, with a 91 percent five-year survival rate for patients with early-stage, localized CRC. This year, the American Cancer Society estimates that CRC will claim the lives of 840 Wisconsinites alone, and statistics show that about 75 percent of these individuals were not up to date with recommended screenings.
One innovative new screening tool now available to Wisconsin residents is the Shield test, developed by Guardant Health. It’s the first blood test approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a primary screening method for colorectal cancer, providing patients the convenience of screening through a simple blood draw. By making screening more accessible and convenient, the Shield test can help to improve screening rates and lead to earlier detection of more cancers, ultimately reducing CRC-related deaths.
The Shield test gives the more than 50 million Americans behind on their recommended colorectal cancer screenings a more pleasant option that fits their lifestyle and preferences by avoiding the inconvenience and discomfort associated with traditional screening methods, such as colonoscopy and stool-based tests. The Shield blood test was recently included in the National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines for colorectal cancer screening and is covered by Medicare and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Community Care Network (CCN).
Wisconsin veteran, veterans advocate, and cancer survivor Tiffany Koehler said, “Far too often, people do not follow recommended screening guidelines. Many people skip the screenings that could catch cancer early, often due to the perceived fears of what the results might reveal, lack of awareness or the perception that tests are too invasive or inconvenient. Today, there is reason for hope as cancer screening, including colorectal cancer, is more accessible than ever before, with promising innovations such as Shield, the first FDA-approved blood test for primary colon cancer screening.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that people at average risk of colorectal cancer start regular screening at age 45. 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.
