Innovative Testing Option Proven to Close Kentucky’s Screening Gap by Making it Easier for Patients to Get Screened for Colorectal Cancer
Kentucky — In recognition of National Cancer Prevention and Early Detection Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of preventive screening and early detection, a new, innovative blood test for colorectal cancer is transforming early detection and making it easier for Kentuckians to get screened.
Guardant Health, Inc., a trusted leader in blood-based cancer tests for more than 10 years, is working with healthcare providers throughout Kentucky to expand access to its Shield™ blood test, the first and only blood test approved by the FDA as a primary screening option for colorectal cancer for average-risk individuals ages 45 and older.
The Shield test offers more than 54 million Americans – one in every three people – who are behind on their recommended screenings a quicker and easier way to screen that fits their lifestyle and preferences by avoiding the inconvenience and discomfort associated with traditional screening methods. As part of its mission to close America’s colorectal cancer screening gap and help more Americans get screened, Guardant Health recently launched Shield Across America, a nationwide mobile screening tour designed to increase colorectal cancer screening awareness and education in over 100 communities across the country.
CRC is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in Kentucky and nationwide, though it’s highly treatable when caught early, with a 91 percent five-year survival rate for patients with early-stage, localized colorectal cancer. This year, the American Cancer Society estimates that 2,660 will develop and 970 will die from CRC, underscoring the need for more people to take action and get screened.
“National Cancer Prevention and Early Detection Month serves as an important reminder that early and regular cancer screening can save lives,” said Sam Asgarian, MD, vice president of clinical development for screening at Guardant Health. “The Shield test offers patients in Kentucky a quicker and easier screening option designed to address the barriers that keep millions from completing their recommended colorectal cancer screenings and meet people where they are. By making it easy to screen for CRC with just a blood draw, we could improve early detection rates in Kentucky and ensure that more Kentuckians get screened.”
Early detection and access to available screening options remain the most effective tools in colorectal cancer prevention, yet many Americans delay screening due to inconvenience and discomfort. The Shield test helps to remove the primary barriers that prevent people from getting screened, and new research from the Harris Poll confirms that over three-quarters of screening-eligible Americans said they would be less likely to avoid or delay a colorectal cancer screening knowing that there is an FDA-approved blood test option available. By removing the primary obstacles that stand between patients and life-saving early detection, Shield empowers residents of Kentucky to take action on their health.
The American Cancer Society and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)recommend that people at average risk of colorectal cancer start regular screening at age 45. This April, healthcare providers across Kentucky are ready to help eligible patients take that first step and get screened.
“As a stage IV CRC survivor, I know how much of a difference early detection makes. We are in a new era in early detection with options like Guardant Health’s Shield blood test that make screening quicker and easier for average-risk adults,” said Alex Herring, founder of HELP Kentucky and CRC survivor. “My goal is to ensure others don’t have to go through the aggressive treatment I endured, especially when innovations like Shield are helping detect cancer at its earliest stage and potentially saving more lives.”
The Shield test is intended for individuals at average risk for colorectal cancer, age 45 or older.
For eligible patients in Kentucky, it is offered by prescription through a doctor or other healthcare professional and can be completed during a routine visit. For complete product information about the Shield blood test, including full safety information, visit ShieldCancerScreen.com.
Shield is covered by Medicare, the Veterans Affairs Community Care Network, and TRICARE, for active-duty service members, and is commercially available across the U.S.
About Shield
Shield is a methylation partitioning cell-free DNA (mp-cfDNA) non-invasive, blood-based screening test that detects alterations associated with colorectal cancer in the blood. It is intended as a screening test for individuals at average risk for the disease, age 45 or older, and is not intended for individuals at high risk for colorectal cancer. The Shield test can be considered in a manner similar to guideline-recommended non-invasive CRC screening options and can be completed during any healthcare visit. A positive Shield result raises concern for the presence of colorectal cancer or advanced adenoma and the patient should be referred for colonoscopy evaluation.
About Guardant Health
Guardant Health is a leading precision oncology company focused on guarding wellness and giving every person more time free from cancer. Founded in 2012, Guardant is transforming patient care and accelerating new cancer therapies by providing critical insights into what drives disease through its advanced blood and tissue tests, real-world data and AI analytics. Guardant tests help improve outcomes across all stages of care, including screening to find cancer early, monitoring for recurrence in early-stage cancer, and treatment selection for patients with advanced cancer. For more information, visit guardanthealth.com and follow the company onLinkedIn, X (Twitter) and Facebook.
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