Guardant Health Survey Highlights Patient Anxiety as Barrier to Colorectal Cancer Screening, Blood Test Offers Hope
Guardant Health, Inc. (Nasdaq: GH), a leading precision oncology company, today revealed the results of its second annual “Closing the Gap: CRC Screening Insights” survey. The survey highlighted that nine out of ten physicians are worried about the high percentage of patients who do not complete colorectal cancer (CRC) screenings. Patient fear and anxiety were identified as major barriers to screening, but the introduction of a blood test option offers hope for increasing screening participation.
Released during Colorectal Cancer (CRC) Awareness Month, the survey explores Americans’ understanding of the importance of CRC screening and the barriers that may prevent them from completing recommended screenings. The survey polled 1,000 American adults (ages 45-84) and 350 physicians, including 250 primary care providers and 100 gastroenterologists.
The findings highlight a critical issue in colorectal cancer prevention: over 50 million eligible Americans are not up to date with CRC screening, with many citing traditional methods, such as colonoscopies and stool tests, as unpleasant or inconvenient. The survey reveals that fear and anxiety surrounding the screening process have become more pronounced, contributing to the persistent gap in CRC screening rates.
Fear and Anxiety Impacting CRC Screening Rates
Nearly one-third of patients report experiencing fear or anxiety about the CRC screening process, marking an increase from 22% in February 2024 to 29% in the current survey. Similarly, 82% of gastroenterologists believe that fear and anxiety are significant barriers preventing their patients from completing CRC screenings. This represents a notable rise from 67% in last year’s survey.
The survey also found that 1 in 4 Americans now believe that traditional screening methods are not easy or convenient. This is an increase from 18% in 2024, further underscoring the desire for a quicker, more comfortable screening option. Not surprisingly, 93% of primary care providers and 86% of surveyed Americans believe that patients would be less likely to avoid or delay CRC screenings if an FDA-approved blood test option were available.
“The 2025 survey confirms that fear and anxiety are major reasons millions of Americans may avoid recommended CRC screening,” said Craig Eagle, M.D., Chief Medical Officer at Guardant Health. “However, there’s also a hopeful takeaway: the majority of physicians and patients agree that having an FDA-approved blood test option would significantly reduce the likelihood of delaying or avoiding screening.”
A Promising Solution: The Shield™ Blood Test
Guardant Health’s Shield™ blood test, a first-of-its-kind FDA-approved option for CRC screening, has the potential to dramatically increase screening participation. Unlike traditional methods, the Shield test requires no special preparation, no invasive procedures, and no handling of stool, offering a much more convenient and pleasant alternative for patients.
The Shield test can be completed during any routine healthcare visit, which not only increases accessibility but also eliminates some of the logistical barriers that often prevent patients from getting screened. This simpler, less intimidating method could significantly improve screening rates and, in turn, help detect colorectal cancer earlier when it is most treatable.
The Importance of Early CRC Detection
Colorectal cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States, responsible for an estimated 53,000 deaths in 2024. Despite being highly treatable when detected early, CRC remains a significant public health challenge. Clinical guidelines recommend that Americans at average risk for CRC begin routine screening at age 45. Yet, more than three-quarters of individuals who die from CRC were not up to date with their screening.
Additional Survey Insights
The survey also revealed several key insights about public attitudes toward CRC screening:
- 92% of Americans say they would be more satisfied with their wellness visit if their provider offered an FDA-approved blood test as an option for CRC screening.
- 92% of Americans would be more likely to get a colonoscopy if they had a positive result from a blood screening first.
- Despite being more concerned about CRC and feeling at higher risk, People of Color (POC) are less likely to have been screened for CRC (63% vs. 72% of white people).
- According to the American Cancer Society, Black individuals are about 20% more likely to develop CRC and about 40% more likely to die from it than other racial and ethnic groups in the U.S.
Conclusion
The Shield blood test represents a promising advancement in the effort to close the CRC screening gap. By providing a simpler, non-invasive, and more accessible option, this test could encourage more patients to complete their screenings, leading to earlier detection and ultimately saving lives.
About Guardant Health
Guardant Health is a precision oncology company that focuses on transforming cancer care through advanced blood and tissue tests, real-world data, and AI analytics. Since its founding in 2012, Guardant has been committed to improving patient outcomes at every stage of care, from early cancer detection to treatment selection for patients with advanced cancer. Guardant’s tests play a crucial role in improving outcomes across all stages of care, supporting the company’s mission to give every person more time free from cancer.
