
Blood Test or Colonoscopy? What Patients Need to Know About New Colorectal Cancer Screening Options
The Gastro Girl Podcast
06/01/26
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The American Cancer Society (ACS) recently updated its colorectal cancer screening recommendations, adding new stool-based and blood-based screening options.
What's changed in the new American Cancer Society screening recommendations • New stool DNA and stool RNA screening tests • The role of blood-based cancer screening tests • Why colonoscopy remains the gold standard • Why a follow-up colonoscopy is still needed after a positive screening test • Screening recommendations for adults ages 45–75 • The rise in colorectal cancer among younger adults and what patients should know
The most important takeaway? Colorectal cancer is highly preventable, and the best screening test is the one that gets completed.
This episode is intended for educational purposes only and should not replace medical advice from your healthcare provider.
Previous Episode
What exactly is Barrett's esophagus—and how do doctors determine who may be at higher risk?
In Part 2 of this 4-part patient education series, leading gastroenterologist and advanced endoscopist Raman Muthusamy explains how Barrett's esophagus develops from chronic GERD and how it's diagnosed and evaluated in clinical practice in the United States.
In this episode, you'll learn:
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If you or someone you love experiences long-standing heartburn, reflux, or GERD symptoms, this episode provides trusted, expert-backed information to help you better understand Barrett's esophagus and what comes next.
This episode is part of a 4-part patient education series sponsored by Castle Biosciences and produced in collaboration with leading U.S. clinicians dedicated to improving outcomes for patients with Barrett's esophagus.
Next Episode
If you've tried medications, diet changes, fiber supplements, or other therapies for IBS-C and still aren't feeling better, you're not alone.
Many people with irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C) feel frustrated when symptoms persist despite treatment. But when treatments don't work, it may be time to take a closer look at what's really going on.
In this episode of the Gastro Girl Podcast, Jacqueline Gaulin sits down with Dr. William D. Chey, world-renowned gastroenterologist at the University of Michigan and President of the American College of Gastroenterology, to discuss what patients should do when IBS-C treatments fail.
Dr. Chey explains why some patients continue to struggle, what conditions may be overlooked, and how to work with your healthcare provider to develop a more effective plan.
In this episode, you'll learn:
✅ Why IBS-C treatments may not always work as expected
✅ When it's time to rethink your diagnosis
✅ The role of pelvic floor dysfunction and other overlooked conditions
✅ Questions to ask your healthcare provider
✅ How to take the next step toward better symptom control
✅ Why you don't have to settle for ongoing symptoms
Whether you're newly diagnosed or have been living with IBS-C for years, this episode offers practical insights to help you move forward with confidence.
Learn more at GastroGirl.com.
This episode is sponsored by Ardelyx.
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