Skip the Scope? This Colon Test Works Just as Well

We get it—talking about colonoscopies isn’t anyone’s idea of a good time.

But if you’re over 50, it’s a conversation worth having. And now, there’s a new reason to feel optimistic about your screening options.

In one of the largest and longest studies of its kind, researchers found that a non-invasive stool test known as FIT (short for fecal immunochemical test) may be just as effective as a colonoscopy when it comes to preventing colon cancer deaths.

And here’s the kicker… more people were willing to take the test.

The study, published in The Lancet, followed more than 57,000 people between ages 50–69 over a 10-year period. Participants were either invited to do a one-time colonoscopy or offered the FIT test, which detects hidden blood in the stool.

Here’s what researchers found:

• Nearly 40% of people agreed to take the FIT test—compared to just 32% for colonoscopy.
• Over a decade, both groups had similar rates of colon cancer-related deaths (0.24% for FIT vs. 0.22% for colonoscopy).
• Both tests also performed similarly in overall cancer incidence and all-cause mortality.

Translation?

If you’ve been avoiding screening because of the prep, sedation, or invasiveness of a colonoscopy, the FIT test could be a highly effective alternative.

This matters, especially when we consider how under-screened older adults remain in the U.S.

Colonoscopies, while effective, are often delayed or skipped because of discomfort, fear, or inconvenience. A stool test you can do from home could change that—and save lives.

But what’s the catch?

To be clear, this doesn’t mean colonoscopies are obsolete. They still offer benefits like allowing doctors to immediately remove suspicious polyps during the exam. In some per-protocol analyses of the same study, colonoscopies slightly outperformed FIT when participants followed through.

But researchers caution these secondary results should be interpreted carefully.

Ultimately, the study’s message is clear: Screening saves lives—and people are more likely to participate if the option is easy, non-invasive, and convenient.

So, what should YOU do?

Talk to your doctor. Whether it’s a colonoscopy every 10 years or an annual FIT test, the best screening is the one you’ll actually do.

If you’ve been putting off colon cancer screening, this new research is a reminder that you may have a simpler option that’s just as effective.

To possibly skipping the scope,

Rachel Mace
Managing Editorial Director, e-Alert
with contributions from the research team

P.S. Is milk the secret weapon against colon cancer?

Sources:

Bassett, M. (2025, April). For Colorectal Cancer Screening, FIT Invitation Improved Participation. Medpagetoday.com; MedpageToday. https://www.medpagetoday.com/gastroenterology/coloncancer/114924