FDA-approved blood test detecting colon cancer hopes to increase screening rates

 

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- The gold standard colonoscopy is still the preferred method for finding colon cancer, but on this World Cancer Day, we're hearing more about a simple blood test that could encourage more people to get screened and saved as a result.

A new less invasive method of screening's renewing hope that more colon cancers will be caught early-on.

"We want to be able to diagnose it as early as possible right because the five year survival rate for stage one cancer, stage one colon cancer is 95% versus stage four colon cancer is 13%," said Dr. Ajaz Khan, President of Medical Staff and Medical Oncologist, City of Hope Cancer Center.

The FDA-approved Shield Blood Test, available for patients age 45 and up, is seen as a good first step for patients who may be apprehensive about getting a colonoscopy, or in places where colonoscopy isn't readily available.

"The alarming trend that we're noticing is that there is a consistent increase in the number of men and women being diagnosed under the age of 50," said Dr. Khan.

The blood test is about 85% accurate in detecting cancer, but 90% accurate when ruling it out, and could encourage more people to get screened.

"The tide that we're worried about which is many of these younger patients being diagnosed with late stage disease and how can we impact that and more importantly how can we diagnose more people early on," said Dr. Khan.

City of Hope Cancer Center - just across the Illinois state line where Dr. Khan works - is offering the new blood test. Last year, Wisconsin lost 360 people to colon cancer, but 26-hundred new cases were diagnosed.