New Method for Detecting Colon Cancer

The standard method for detecting colon cancer is a colonoscopy, but this is often painful, and a lot of patients choose not to undergo the procedure. Therefore, a new method of detecting colon polyps, precursors to colon cancer, have been developed. The test consist of a simple blood test that looks for distinct biomarkers that are typical for polyps. If a patients is found to be at risk, they would be more likely to agree to a colonoscopy to see if the polyps have advanced to form cancerous adenomas. The researchers say that the test can identify polyps correctly about 80% of the time. 

A colon polyp