Oregon health providers urge caution in using new blood test for colon cancer

PORTLAND, Ore. ( KOIN ) — After a new blood test to detect colon cancer was approved by the FDA , Oregon health providers are warning the public that the test should not replace a colonoscopy.

The test, known as Shield, is effective at detecting late-stage colon cancer, according to health officials. However, by that point, the disease may either be incurable, or require chemotherapy or surgery to remove part of the colon. As a result, colon cancer specialists at the Oregon Clinic are arguing this is not effective at reducing or even preventing colon cancer.

Meanwhile, a colonoscopy can not only detect cancer, but pre-cancerous polyps can be removed during the procedure. A colonoscopy is 91 to 100% accurate in detecting the polyps.

In contrast, the blood test is only 13% accurate at detecting lesions, which are more likely to turn into colon cancer over time compared to the polyps.

Because colon cancer is the second-most common cause of cancer deaths in the United States, the Oregon Clinic – as well as the American Cancer Society and other organizations – say the colonoscopy is the gold standard in colon cancer screening and prevention. But now that Shield has been approved, they add individuals should carefully understand these limitations of the test before making screening decisions.

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