Cancer Society: 2 Tests Are Best; 1 Better Than None

The American Cancer Society has updated their recommendations for screening for colorectal cancer to advise that although a combination of fecal occult blood test and sigmoidoscopy is preferable, one of these tests is far better than none.

These guidelines appear in the Cancer Journal for Clinicians in response to the concerns of physicians.

"Many primary care physicians and others were telling us that they were not prepared to offer sigmoidoscopy," notes Robert Smith, of the ACS. "We know that fecal occult blood testing (FOBT) alone is effective. We know that flexible sigmoidoscopy alone is effective. We believe that the data show that the combined testing is more effective. But the most important thing that anyone, provider or patient, can do now is at least do something," the report concluded.

Other sources: The American Cancer Society, Cancer Journal for Clinicians