To uncover attitudes and the largest challenges facing colorectal cancer (CRC) awareness and screening, BGI Genomics released its State of Colorectal Cancer Awareness Report, marking the first-ever global survey report on the world’s third commonest cancer. This report seeks to motivate motion to tackle the health challenges of today and tomorrow.
This inaugural report seeks to higher understand the worldwide state of CRC awareness, in addition to attitudes and actions towards CRC screening for average risk groups and CRC screening for hereditary genetic risk groups. 1,817 respondents from six countries and regions were surveyed: the U.K, Hungary, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong.
Hungary had the best global incidence rate of colorectal cancer, with 9,793 cases in 2020 based on World Cancer Research Fund data. CRC screening participation rate could be very low in Hungary. Worryingly, this report finds Hungary tops the world (52.8%) when it comes to lack of symptoms holding them back from screening, far above the worldwide average of 37.0%.
Despite 51.5% reporting that there’s insufficient details about CRC and 34.5% citing costs holding them back from CRC screening, the report reveals several optimistic findings. For instance, 88.8% are more willing to go for screening upon learning concerning the 5-year survival rate of 90% for early CRC detection.
Image Credit: BGI Genomics
Image Credit: BGI Genomics
“Early CRC detection offers the most effective end result for people and healthcare policy. The treatment cost of late-stage CRC is typically greater than ten times higher relative to early-stage CRC but with far lower survival rates,” said Yantao Li, PhD, BGI Genomics Director of Colorectal Cancer Screening Programme, South-East Asia. “That is why more countries or regions are promoting early screening programs. For instance, the European Commission is ramping up CRC screening programs.”
Other key takeaways from the report include:
Colonoscopy is the best-known screening test, but there’s scope to reinforce the attention of other tests resembling fecal tests. Though colonoscopy (68.2%) is the best-known screening test, it’s costlier and cumbersome relative to fecal testing which is lesser known at 49.5%. To advertise this cheaper and versatile option, fecal testing awareness must be enhanced.
Doctors are the largest factor for respondents to go for screening within the absence of symptoms. 62.5% will heed their doctor’s advice to undergo CRC screening. Subsequently, it’s vital that doctors are made more aware of CRC symptoms, ask the fitting inquiries to discover potential hereditary genetic risk and offer patients a variety of screening options, to suit different lifestyles and budgets. In our opinion, the most effective colorectal cancer screening test is the one a patient will do.
Respondents are split when asked about bringing their members of the family for screening. 55.7% are aware that a family history of CRC increases their risk. Based on the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines, these members of the family should start screening at age 40 or 10 years before the earliest diagnosis of CRC within the family. The excellent news is that 67.2% who had CRC or a family history of CRC have taken their members of the family for screening. Conversely, only 31.2% of all respondents have taken their members of the family for CRC screening.
To read and examine country or region-level comparisons, please see link to access the total BGI Genomics State of Colorectal Cancer Awareness Report 2023.
About BGI Genomics and COLOTECT
BGI Genomics, headquartered in Shenzhen China, is the world’s leading integrated solutions provider of precision medicine. In July 2017, as a subsidiary of BGI Group, BGI Genomics (300676.SZ) was officially listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange.
Image Credit: BGI Genomics
COLOTECT is a non-invasive fecal DNA test developed by BGI Genomics for detecting CRC and precancerous lesions. It uses multiplex methylation-specific PCR (MSP) technology to trace abnormal DNA-methylation biomarkers in CRC from stool samples. It has 88% CRC sensitivity, and for early detection, its sensitivity for advanced adenoma is 46%, that are each superior to standard fecal tests.