The pandemic has led many people to delay getting important medical exams. Folks are likely weighing the risk/benefit of, for example, an in-person cancer screening at a potentially crowded medical clinic with who knows how many sick patients. Cancer is insidious in that many forms develop asymptomatically until it is too late, which is why cancer screenings get more important as we age. Studies, though, have shown that colon cancer screenings in 2020 are down 36% from pre-pandemic levels. This may contribute to approximately 4500 excess colon cancer deaths from cancer screening delays. Home cancer screening kits may be a way to reduce some of those numbers, however.

When you think of a colon cancer screening (I’m sure it’s a daily thought of yours), a colonoscopy is what you’re thinking of (again, daily thought). The procedure requires a day or two of bowel prep, time off from work (or family), and a ride home from the procedure. Then there’s the procedure itself, which is not known for being “comfortable.” Of course you’re not doing this at home. The thing is, it’s NOT the only screening test, and it’s not far more effective than one alternative: the home stool-based screening test.

The home screening test has been on the market for several years now, but has not been getting tremendous buy in from providers. The pandemic may be changing this, however. With a home screening kit package includes the testing materials and a pre-paid return label: the patient collects a sample and mails it back to the lab for testing. Far less time consuming than an all day invasive procedure.

With the increasing use of telemedicine, this home screening may be an option that helps to prevent unnecessary misery from late identification of colon cancer. This is no panacea but it is an option in your physician’s arsenal to identifying problems before they become big problems.