There are pros and cons to different screening types. While colonoscopy is the most effective screening exam for colorectal cancer, there are screening kits you can do from the comfort of your home.
The tests below are at-home screening kits. They have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and are valued for their ease of use and effectiveness. Remember that not all at-home kits are covered by insurance, so you may not be able to choose which test you want.
The fecal immunochemical test (FIT) is used to detect blood in stool that cannot be seen with the naked eye. A FIT is often used to detect bleeding in the digestive tract which has no other signs or symptoms. A FIT test may not detect blood from further up the digestive tract (such as the stomach), which means it is more specific to finding blood coming from the colon.
The stool DNA Test detects microscopic amounts of blood in stool, but also looks for certain DNA changes and mutations found in cancerous tumors or precancerous polyps. Cells from precancerous and cancerous lesions with certain mutations often shed DNA biomarkers into the stool, where this test can detect them.
The stool RNA test kit combines the analysis of specific RNA biomarkers, which provide a dynamic view of cellular activity in the colon, with a fecal immunochemical test (FIT) that checks for hidden, occult blood in the stool. The sample is sent to a laboratory for analysis.
The Colorectal Cancer Alliance is urging Americans to prioritize colorectal cancer screening, as the American Cancer Society (ACS) released updated guidelines today.
Americans increasingly view colorectal cancer screening encouragement as an act of love, with new survey data showing rising openness about lifesaving prevention.
Katie Couric joins the Colorectal Cancer Alliance and Ryan Reynolds’ Maximum Effort to expand LEAD FROM BEHIND, a star-powered campaign breaking stigma and urging lifesaving colon cancer screening. Colon cancer is the preventable cancer.