CRC death rates to rise if more choose blood test over colonoscopy: 8 study takeaways

Here are eight things to know from the study:

1. Researchers from Stanford (Calif.) Medicine compared colonoscopy data and data from blood- and stool-based screenings to model colorectal cancer and death rates per 100,000 individuals with an average risk of developing colorectal cancer for each screening option.
2. According to the model, for individuals receiving a colonoscopy once every 10 years, 1,543 would develop colorectal cancer and 672 would die.
3. For individuals utilizing stool-based tests every one to three years, cancer incidence ranged from 2,181 to 2,498, and deaths ranged from 904 to 1,025.
4. For individuals utilizing blood tests every three years, incidence ranged from 4,310 to 4,365, and deaths ranged from 1,604 to 1,679.
5. Among individuals who received no screening, 7,470 would develop cancer and 3,624 would die.
6. The study found that colon colonoscopies and stool-based tests were more cost-effective than blood tests.
7. The study authors concluded that blood tests should be used as the primary screening for patients who would otherwise not receive colorectal cancer screening.
8. The study authors also said real-world data would better refine the model and that improvements to blood tests would influence future model results.