This Affordable Test Could Save Your Life (And Your Wallet)
No one looks forward to getting screened for colon cancer.
But here’s the bottom line—catching it early can make all the difference in achieving a good outcome.
The tricky part is that not everyone is eager to commit to that dreaded colonoscopy! (Can you blame them?) Luckily, there are now several noninvasive tests available that check your stool for early warning signs.
But a big, new study shows that—while two common at-home tests are equally reliable—one comes with a significantly smaller price tag. And in the era of skyrocketing healthcare costs, that’s welcome news indeed!
Researchers from Allegheny Health Network in Pittsburgh took a deep dive into insurance claims data from over 117,000 patients who got a colon cancer screening in 2019.
They zeroed in on folks who used either a fecal immunochemical test (FIT) or a multi-target stool DNA test (mt-sDNA, brand name Cologuard) instead of getting a traditional colonoscopy.
Surprisingly, both the FIT and Cologuard were equally good at flagging early-stage cancers—detecting growths before they spread beyond the colon. About 60% of people diagnosed with either test had stage 0 to II tumors, which are highly treatable.
But here’s the kicker, the trusty FIT only cost around $24 a pop. Cologuard, on the other hand, rang in at a whopping $121 per test! That’s over FIVE TIMES more expensive.
All in all, the health system shelled out $1.1 million on FITs compared to an eye-popping $5.6 million on Cologuard over the course of a single year. Crunch the numbers and that’s a potential savings of nearly $4 million if everyone opted for the FIT!
Lead researcher Dr. Pavan Rao emphasized that national guidelines already recommend FIT as the primary noninvasive screening choice. But clearly, a hefty chunk of patients still spring for the pricier Cologuard—likely because they assume higher cost means better quality.
However, this new data reinforces that both tests are clinically equivalent. Meaning there’s no advantage to blowing your budget on the spendy version!
By spreading the word about FIT’s fantastic performance at a fraction of the price, we could save patients and insurance companies alike some major moolah. And in today’s world of soaring medical expenses, that’s a victory for everyone.
Of course, the best way to stop colon cancer in its tracks is still good old-fashioned colonoscopy. But if the mere thought makes you squeamish, these findings should give you some much-needed peace of mind.
Chat with your doctor about whether a stool-based screening test could be a good fit for you (pun fully intended). And if so, don’t hesitate to ask for the more affordable FIT option. Your wallet (and your colon) will thank you.
The key is to get checked early and often. Because when it comes to keeping your gut in tip-top shape, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!
So don’t put it off any longer—schedule that screening test today.
To a cancer-free tomorrow,
Rachel Mace
Managing Editorial Director, e-Alert
with contributions from the research team
P.S. Fight colon cancer with help from “Popeye”? Find out here.
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