What to know about the FDA-approved blood test for colon cancer detection

The FDA has approved a new blood test for detecting colon cancer. The approval comes after a clinical study found the test could correctly detect colon cancer in 83% of participants who were not experiencing symptoms. CBS News chief medical correspondent Dr. Jon LaPook has the details.

[chealey]

With increasing colorectal cancer rates in younger adults, I hope they expand approval to us soon.

[viralnorn]

The problem is, I had a false positive with the cologard. Then my insurance company declared my colonoscopy not preventative, and I had to pay $500 out of pocket for the colonoscopy. They found nothing. I was ripped off.

[frhyuhy]

With the high false positive rate, check your insurance. In my case, colonguard changed the copays from fully covered to, preventive, to $2, 000 diagnostic. I should have just had the free colonosipy in the first place.

[CarlYoungII]

I had bloody stools in my younger years and finally in 2021 at the age of only 31 I had a colonoscopy. Since I wasn't the recommend age of 45 or older I had to pay $3000 for this. A polyp was found though it was benign. I have to get screened again in 10 years or perhaps a little less and I still won't be the recommended age at that point. The age needs to be lowered to 25. It will save many lives. By making ppl wait extra decades, it gives the polyps time to grow into a situation that we will not be able to handle. The FDA must change this asap!!!!

[GreenWitch]

My friend was just diagnosed with colon cancer after a colonoscopy 😢 We should all get over the ick of it & get it done!!

[Trina_White]

Canada mails tests out to Canadians for free

[documax]

For a second there I thought he said another tool in the stoolchest.

[hammer-r]

Well I hope it’s better than the off the shelf ones (cologard) that have both false positives and negatives. Until then it’s a colonoscopy every 5 years for me. I’d rather be a bit embarrassed than dead from cancer.

[Vincent]

Warning: You insurance will deny coverage for colonoscopy if you ever get tested by this.

[westonhuffman]

Well, I'd rather do a poop sample test.

[heathisul]

I’m stage 4 and have had multiple negative ctDNA tests. Get a colonoscopy.

[heidilady]

For adults who are mentally impaired, adults with dementia, etc this will be a life saver!

[irvanmm]

Either colonoscopy, blood test or poop in the box is better than no test.

At least, a blood test could attract more interest from those not wanting to do a colonoscopy.

[hopeworldstudio]

get a colonoscopy if you can. these tests are a way for insurance companies to save money not save lives.

[littlems.tries-to-fix-it]

If i needed to know something this is the last place I’d look.

[pennyfrance]

Conflict of interest. I love him but he's a GI guy.