Preventing Colorectal Cancer With A Colonoscopy

Colorectal cancer is a leading cause of cancer incidence and mortality in the United States, ranking as the third most common cancer and the second deadliest among Americans, according to the American Cancer Society. A cornerstone of effective prevention is the screening colonoscopy, the gold standard for detecting and removing precancerous and cancerous lesions in the colon. Screening colonoscopies not only offer superior accuracy compared to noninvasive methods like Cologuard Plus but also allow immediate treatment, reducing the risk of cancer progression.

Cologuard Plus is an at-home stool DNA test for colorectal cancer screening. According to the BLUE-C study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, Cologuard Plus improves detection by including new biomarkers; however, it still detects only 43% of advanced precancerous lesions. By contrast, colonoscopies have a detection rate of 85% to 95% for all precancerous lesions, significantly reducing the risk of cancer development.

This high accuracy of a colonoscopy allows physicians to find and remove suspicious growths in real-time, preventing them from progressing to cancer that often requires more invasive treatments like surgery, chemotherapy or radiation. Although Cologuard Plus tests offer convenience, the ability of colonoscopy to provide a clear visual assessment and immediate intervention makes it the most effective option for preventing colorectal cancer and promoting long-term health.