Last Updated on April 28, 2026 by Staff
Colorectal cancer is one of the main reasons people die from cancer in the United States. It is the most common cause of cancer deaths. So it is very important to find and prevent it early. There are tools to screen for colorectal cancer but many people, especially those who do not have a lot of money or resources do not get screened.
Community health centers help a lot of people who do not have insurance or who have incomes. These centers play a role in fixing this problem. But they often do not have resources and they face many challenges so it is hard for them to implement screening programs that work well.
To Make Screening Better
Researchers from Mass General Brigham and UCLA Health worked with community health centers in Boston and Los Angeles. They wanted to see how different stool tests would affect how many people got screened. They sent stool tests to more than 5,000 adults who were 45 to 75 years old and needed to get screened for colorectal cancer.
The researchers sent two types of stool tests. One was called an immunochemical test or FIT. The other was a test called FIT-DNA. Both tests are easy to use. Can detect signs of cancer in stool.
The FIT test checks for blood in stool and people usually do it every year. The FIT-DNA test checks for blood and abnormal DNA that can be a sign of cancer. People usually do this test every three years.
The FIT-DNA test also has a support program that helps people do the test. This is different from the FIT test, where community health centers handle the mailing and follow-up.
More People Completed The FIT-DNA Test
The study found that people who got the FIT-DNA test were more likely to complete it. After 90 days 28 percent of people who got the FIT-DNA test had completed it. Only 23 percent of people who got the FIT test had completed it.
This may not seem like a difference but it is important for public health. Even small increases in screening rates can help find cancer and improve outcomes.
The researchers think that the FIT-DNA test had a completion rate because it has a support system and people do not have to do it as often. This makes it easier for people to do the test.
There Are Still Barriers
Even though more people completed the screening the study found a big problem: many people did not follow up after they got abnormal test results.
When a stool test shows that someone might have cancer they need to get a colonoscopy to confirm it. Only 36 percent of people who got abnormal results got a colonoscopy, no matter which test they used.
This shows that there is a gap in the screening process. If people do not follow up the benefits of detection are reduced.
Different Places Have Results
The study also found that there were differences between Boston and Los Angeles. More people in Boston got colonoscopies than in Los Angeles. This might be because of differences in healthcare access, insurance and specialized services.
These differences show that we need to do more to address barriers and improve access to care.
What This Means
The study’s findings are important for improving cancer screening in communities. They show that new tools like FIT-DNA can help. They are not enough on their own.
We need to take an approach that includes educating patients, improving access to follow-up care and supporting healthcare systems.
The study also supports efforts to reduce health disparities. For example, similar research has shown that FIT-DNA tests can help increase screening participation in American communities.
What We Can Do Next
Experts say that the best screening test is the one that people’re willing and able to do. So healthcare providers need to think about how easy tests are to use, not just how accurate they are.
We need to improve outreach programs, reduce barriers and make sure people get follow-up care on time.
Investing in community health centers and support systems can help us achieve these goals and make sure that preventive care reaches the people who need it most.
In Conclusion
The study shows that mailed stool tests FIT-DNA kits can improve colorectal cancer screening rates in underserved populations. We still have a big problem with people not following up after abnormal test results.
To really reduce the burden of cancer healthcare systems need to address both initial screening and follow-up care. By combining tools, with accessible services we can detect cancer earlier and save more lives.