Cancer

Dec. 15, 2022

Colorectal cancer screening options and preferences

Click for an infographic about colorectal cancer screening options and the changing preferences of patient care teams.

Colorectal cancer can be preventable if detected early with the appropriate screenings. However, nearly 1 in 3 adults is not up to date on colorectal cancer screening. The National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable reports national screening rates at 67.9%, well below the goal of 80% of all eligible adults screened.

Colonoscopy has long been the preferred method of screening for many care providers. With several effective tests now on the market, it's important to consider the unique situation of each patient and present screening options that meet those individual needs.

"We have many approaches to detecting and preventing colorectal cancer," says Tanios S. Bekaii-Saab, M.D., a gastrointestinal medical oncologist at Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center in Arizona. "It's incredibly beneficial to work with patients and present screening and treatment that are best suited for individual situations."

A Mayo Clinic study recently evaluated primary care provider preferences for colorectal screening. The results were published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings in June 2021. Nearly 1 in 4 primary care providers now prefers noninvasive colorectal cancer screening options.

To learn more about these preferences and the screening options available, see the infographic about choosing colorectal cancer screening that works for your patients.

For more information

Data and progress. National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable.

Rutten LJF, et al. Health care provider characteristics associated with colorectal cancer screening preferences and use. Mayo Clinic Proceedings. 2021;97:101.

Furst J. Primary care clinicians adjust recommendations for colorectal cancer screening to accommodate patient needs and preferences, study finds. Mayo Clinic.

Refer a patient to Mayo Clinic.