Open Access News Cancer Research News Home screening test reduces colorectal cancer deaths July 26, 2024 image: ©dzika_mrowka | iStock A noninvasive colorectal cancer screening test can be done at home, showing positive results Researchers from The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center and Kaiser Permanente analysed data from nearly 11,000 patients who underwent at-home FIT (fecal immunochemical testing) between 2002 and 2017. The findings showed that this simple test could reduce the risk of colorectal cancer death by 33%, marking a significant advancement in cancer prevention efforts. Colorectal cancer Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer diagnosed in both men and women in the United States, with over 50,000 deaths expected in 2024 alone.
Despite the availability of effective screening methods, such as colonoscopy, many Americans still do not undergo regular screening. “The right screening test is the one that gets done — and is done well,” emphasised Dr. Chyke Doubeni, senior author of the study and a prominent figure in cancer research at The Ohio State University.
“The evidence shows that FIT done every year is as good as getting a colonoscopy every 10 years for screening people of average risk.” The study not only highlighted the overall effectiveness of FIT in reducing colorectal cancer deaths. Dr.
Douglas Corley, co-principal investigator from Kaiser Permanente, Northern California, underscored the importance of these findings: “I.