NEW YORK, July 27: A new study reveals that a simple home screening test for colon cancer can lower the risk of dying from the disease by 33%. The research, published in JAMA Network Open, highlights the effectiveness of the annual at-home fecal immunochemical test (FIT), which the study suggests is as effective as a colonoscopy every decade for individuals at average risk.

Dr. Chyke Doubeni, senior author of the study and professor at Ohio State University College of Medicine, emphasized the significance of these findings. “This study should give individuals and their clinicians confidence in using this noninvasive test for screening,” Doubeni said. “It’s crucial to deploy these tests in underserved communities where colorectal cancer screening rates are very low.”

The FIT screening detects blood in stool samples, a potential indicator of colon cancer or precancerous polyps. The study assessed data from nearly 11,000 Kaiser Permanente patients who underwent at-home FIT screening between 2002 and 2017 in California.

Participants collected stool samples privately at home and sent them to a lab for analysis, offering a less invasive alternative to colonoscopy. Colonoscopies, the gold standard for screening, involve a procedure where a camera-equipped tube is inserted into the rectum to examine the intestinal lining.

“Despite knowing for decades that colorectal cancer can be detected early through screening, only about 60% of Americans aged 45-75 are up to date with their screening,” Doubeni noted.

The study found that FIT screening reduced overall colon cancer death risk by 33% and decreased the risk of left-sided colon cancer by 42%. Left-sided colon cancer is more common than right-sided cancer, according to Fight Colorectal Cancer, an advocacy group.

FIT screening also showed a reduction in colon cancer death risk among various ethnic groups: 63% for Asians, 42% for Black individuals, and 30% for white individuals. Although there was a 22% lower risk of death among Hispanic people, this result was not statistically significant.

Dr. Douglas Corley, chief research officer at Kaiser Permanente Northern California and a co-author of the study, stressed the importance of FIT screening. “Colorectal cancer screening is one of the most effective ways to reduce deaths from this disease,” he said. “This study confirms that FIT is an effective tool, especially when used regularly.”

Corley also pointed out that providing multiple screening options has increased participation rates to over 80%, contributing to a 50% reduction in colorectal cancer deaths.

However, Doubeni cautioned that individuals who receive abnormal FIT results should promptly follow up with a colonoscopy. This procedure can confirm the FIT results and allow for the removal of any detected precancerous polyps.

The findings underscore the effectiveness of at-home FIT screening in reducing colon cancer mortality and highlight the need for widespread adoption of this screening method.