State Sen. Devlin J. Robinson
The American Cancer Society’s (ACS) recent update to its colorectal cancer screening recommendations to include the first FDA-approved blood test for cancer screening marks a major step forward in the effort to detect colorectal cancer earlier and save more lives. This comes at a critical time for Pennsylvania, where too many people are still putting off their lifesaving screenings.
Approximately 30 percent of eligible Pennsylvanians ages 45 to 75 are not up to date on recommended colorectal cancer screenings, a troubling gap given that colorectal cancer is the third leading cause of cancer-related death in the state.
Those numbers should get our attention, but they should also push more people to act. Unfortunately, many avoid the uncomfortable and invasive colonoscopy procedure, despite knowing the risk.
Colorectal cancer is highly treatable when caught early. In fact, when detected in its earliest stage, the five-year survival rate for colorectal cancer is 91 percent. That is a powerful reason to stay up to date with recommended screenings and ensure more Pennsylvanians have access to the latest innovations in screening today.
Colonoscopies remain the gold standard, but due to inconvenience and discomfort, many people simply avoid or outright refuse to schedule one. A new blood-based screening option offers residents another, more accessible option to reach the one in three Pennsylvanians who would otherwise remain unscreened, with the ability to screen for colorectal cancer with just a blood draw during a routine doctor’s visit.
But new screening tools only make a difference if patients can access them. As recommendations from trusted medical professionals evolve, our legislature must continue working to ensure residents can benefit from the full range of available, FDA-approved screening options, and that coverage keeps pace with the latest medical guidance.
That is also why I offered an amendment to House Bill 1123, legislation to improve access to colorectal cancer screening in Pennsylvania. My amendment, which was approved unanimously in the Senate Banking & Insurance Committee late last month, strengthens the intent of HB 1123 by ensuring it reflects the most recent guidance on approved testing. This guidance outlines coverage for blood-based testing, stool-based RNA testing, as well as the proper and important use of cell-free DNA testing as a screening method.
Updated clinical guidelines help doctors and patients understand how screening is changing and improving. Coupled with the existing provisions in HB 1123 to increase access to new screening options, the amended language of the bill can help more Pennsylvanians get screened earlier, when cancer is more treatable.
When more people get screened, more cancers are caught early. Improved screening can help reduce late-stage diagnoses, improve colorectal cancer outcomes, save money by preventing the need for costly treatments of cancer that wasn’t caught early, and most importantly, save lives across Pennsylvania. And over time, closing screening gaps will help improve cancer rates in the commonwealth by reducing the number of cases found after the disease has already progressed.
More Pennsylvanians need to understand their options so they can act before it is too late; and, they deserve access to the latest advancements available today that make it easier to do so. HB 1123, with my bipartisan amendment, makes that possible.