Dr. Paul Limburg’s Statement on the Recently Published NordICC Study in the New England Journal of Medicine
A message from Exact Sciences Corporation Chief Medical Officer of Screening
Recent media reports inaccurately implied colonoscopies are ineffective at reducing colorectal cancer deaths, per a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine. The headlines fail to tell the real story.
Based on the forty-two percent of study participants who received a colonoscopy, the mortality rate was cut in half and the risk of developing colorectal cancer decreased by 31 percent.
Colonoscopies remain a crucial tool for colorectal cancer screening. Studies also show the importance of offering more than one FDA-approved screening option, including the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force endorsed, non-invasive, at-home tests such as Cologuard®, which detects both colorectal cancers and precancerous polyps. If you’re 45 or older and at average risk for colorectal cancer, speak with your healthcare provider about your options for screening.
