Episode #64: Pros & Cons of New Blood Test for Colorectal Cancer | Fred Rosenberg & Lauren Bleich | Gastro Health

Dr. Fred Rosenberg interviews Dr. Lauren Bleich, of Gastro Health, who serves as president of the Massachusetts Gastroenterology Society about a new blood-based screening test from Guardant Health for colorectal cancer. This summer, a U.S. Food & Drug Administration advisory panel voted that the Shield test was safe and effective, after reviewing evidence from a study which showed that the test correctly detected colorectal cancer in 83% of people confirmed to have it. However, the panel cautioned that while the test is effective in finding later-stage cancers, it only detected 13% of earlier-stage polyps. Join Dr. Rosenberg and Dr. Bleich as they discuss the opportunities and limitations of this new test in detecting polyps, and why colonoscopy remains the gold standard for colorectal cancer screening, as the only test that prevents colon cancer by removing polyps before they can turn into cancer. --- Produced by Andrew Sousa and Hayden Margolis for Steadfast Collaborative, LLC Mixed and mastered by Hayden Margolis Gastro Broadcast, Episode 64, presented by TissueCypher from Castle Biosciences