AUSTIN (KXAN) – There is a new and less invasive option to test for colon cancer and it doesn’t require a stay at the hospital or mailing a stool sample.
The Food Drug and Administration approved Guardant Health’s test, called Shield, last summer. Research published in the New England Journal of Medicine shows the test caught 83% of the cancer. Health experts hope it will help encourage more people to get tested and detect the cancer early.
“We’re not trying to replace the colonoscopy, that is our gold standard, but we’re trying to bridge the gap between those who don’t want to get tested at all and are just really scared of their limited options,” said Dr. Antoine Pham.
Pham offers the blood test to his patients at Thrive Medical in Leander. He said 50 million Americans who are currently at the recommended age to get screened don’t get tested. The American Cancer Society recommends people start screenings at age 45.
“We’re trying to cover that gap by giving them another option, and hopefully they’ll be more willing to go through colon cancer screening,” said the physician. “We’ve had 12 to 13 screenings since July.”
He said patients have a positive reaction to this new option because it offers a simple alternative that doesn’t require that much time.
“Patients who are concerned about doing the prep for a colonoscopy are worried about taking time off of work. Some are uncomfortable collecting their own stool for the fecal based testing. Many of them are pretty excited about having this option,” Pham said.
Ann M. Storey knows about the stigma tied to colon cancer screenings.
“It’s just not a polite topic,” Storey recalled about how she used to feel about talking about screenings.
The mother of two was living an active and healthy lifestyle in her 30s when she was diagnosed with stage three colon cancer 11 years ago.
“I just cried,” Storey said about the day her doctor called with the news. “I didn’t know how to accept it.”
Talking about it after the diagnosis was just as hard for Storey.
“I was embarrassed to even tell my parents, definitely embarrassed to tell any friends,” said Storey. “Knowing that there’s so many other people out there living with the same disease and knowing the the stigma behind not wanting to talk about it is, is what prevents people from prevention.”
A year later, Storey beat cancer and is now using her journey to empower others. The cancer survivor is the local director of Get Your Rear in Gear – a 5K race/walk held the first weekend of March to kick off Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month.
“The goal is to make sure that everybody has the opportunity to get screened. Screening is vital and if you can catch it early enough, then you don’t ever have to live with that fear,” Storey said.
The American Cancer Society said colon cancer is expected to cause nearly 53,000 deaths in 2025. It is the third-leading cause of cancer-related deaths in men and the fourth leading cause in women in the United States.
Read the guidelines the American Cancer Society has for people considered at average risk and high risk.
According to the ACS these are the signs to watch for:
• A change in bowel habits, such as diarrhea, constipation, or narrowing of the stool, that lasts for more than a few days
• A feeling that you need to have a bowel movement that is not relieved by having one
• Rectal bleeding with bright red blood
• Blood in the stool, which might make it look dark brown or black
• Cramping or abdominal (belly) pain
• Weakness and fatigue
• Losing weight without trying
This new screening option is currently only covered through Medicare but the goal is to get private insurance companies to also help cover the cost.
“This gives another option for us to use, and I think it will definitely improve colon cancer detection,” Pham said.
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