“ The Las Vegas Asian Chamber of Commerce Urges Increased Colorectal Cancer Screening During National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, Highlighting Low Screening Rates in Asian Communities. Please read the following important and life-saving message from Dr. Choi.

Screening Can Save Lives: Why More Nevadans Must Act During Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month

March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, a time to focus on a disease that too often goes undetected until it is too late. Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in Nevada and across the United States. This year alone, an estimated 1,530 Nevadans will be diagnosed with the disease, and about 580 will lose their lives to it.

Yet there is real reason for hope: colorectal cancer is highly treatable when caught early. In fact, when detected at an early stage, the survival rate exceeds 90 percent. When the disease is discovered at a later stage, however, survival drops dramatically to just 13 percent. The difference between those outcomes is often a simple but critical step—screening.

Despite the lifesaving power of screening, many people remain behind on recommended tests. Nationally, about one in three eligible adults are not up to date with colorectal cancer screening. For many people, the barriers are practical and personal: the time required to schedule and prepare for testing, the discomfort associated with certain procedures, and the challenge of fitting appointments into already busy lives.

These barriers can be even more significant in some communities. In many Asian American families, cultural values around privacy and modesty can make traditional screening procedures feel uncomfortable or difficult to discuss openly. Data reflects this reality. According to the 2015 and 2018 National Health Interview Survey, colorectal cancer screening rates among Asian Americans age 45 and older range from 41 percent among Asians of unspecified origin and 44 percent among Asian Indian individuals to 51 percent among Chinese individuals. By comparison, screening rates among White individuals are about 57 percent.

The encouraging news is that screening options are expanding, offering new ways to make early detection more accessible. Today, patients can choose from several approaches, including colonoscopy, stool-based tests, and newer blood-based screening options.

Colonoscopy remains the gold standard for colorectal cancer screening. It allows physicians not only to detect cancer early but also to find and remove precancerous polyps before they become cancer. Stool-based tests arealso effective, noninvasive screening options.

However, some individuals remain reluctant to undergo colonoscopy or stool-based testing. For those patients, newer, innovative blood-based screening options may help remove some of the barriers that prevent screening altogether. One example is Guardant Health’s Shield blood test, the first and only FDA-approved blood test for primary colorectal cancer screening for adults 45 and older who are at average risk. The test can be completed through a blood draw during a routine doctor’s visit, without preparation or invasive procedures.

Ultimately, the most important message is simple: the best screening test is the one that gets done.

If you are 45 or older and at average risk for colorectal cancer, talk with your doctor about creating a screening plan that works for you. Whether that plan involves a colonoscopy, a stool-based test, or a blood-based screening option like Shield, what matters most is starting the conversation and following through.

Colorectal cancer is one of the most preventable and treatable cancers when detected early. During Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, let’s take the opportunity to turn awareness into action—for ourselves, our families, and our communities.”

In Good Health,

Dr. Choi