New Colon Cancer Screening Being Tested Out
Colon cancer screening has vastly improved over the years with the biggest change being the transition away from the invasive colonoscopy to the less invasive virtual colonoscopy. A new clinical trial is taking place which explores the possibility of even more advances in this type of medical screening.
"A Northwestern University biomedical engineer who has developed optical technology shown to be effective for the early detection of colon cancer has received a $7.5 million grant over five years from the National Cancer Institute to further study an instrument that potentially could become a routine colon cancer screening test and to launch large-scale clinical trials." (source)
If this test turns out to be successful, it could radically change the face of colon cancer screening. The test is so simple that it is believed that it could be performed by the primary care physician in an annual check-up. This is vastly different from the procedure today which requires going to a specialist for specific screening.
Colon cancer is a serious disease which is a leading killer in America today. The more readily available that we can make screening for the disease, the more likely it is that people will get diagnosed and treated early enough to reduce the fatality rates caused by colon cancer. This test could lead us in that direction.
Question of the Day: Will this new colon cancer screening reduce fatality rates of colorectal cancer?photo link
