A simple at-home test could cut colorectal cancer death risk by 43%

A new study published in JAMA Network Open reveals that participating in colorectal cancer screening could reduce the risk of death from the disease by as much as 43 percent. Researchers from Karolinska Institutet and Umeå University in Sweden analyzed data from the Stockholm-Gotland screening program, which has been in place since 2008 and offers universal screening to people aged 60-74 every two years.

Participants receive a home testing kit and provide a stool sample that is checked for invisible traces of blood. If blood is detected, further testing, most often a colonoscopy, is provided. Previous evaluations showed a 14 percent lower risk of dying from colorectal cancer for those who received an invitation to screening. This new research, which tracked participants for up to 14 years, found that receiving an invitation was linked to a 26 percent lower risk of dying from the disease.

Among those who actually participated in the screening, the risk was even higher, at 43 percent lower. While screening is free and easy to perform, only about a third of people submit a sample. The study's large sample size, long follow-up period, and access to Swedish health records are considered strengths, though the findings rely on statistical adjustments to account for various biases.

The research was funded by the Swedish Cancer Society, the Swedish Research Council, and Region Stockholm.