Stool-Based Screening Tests for Colorectal Cancer

A 56-year-old man with no significant medical history was seen in clinic by his primary care physician. The patient had not followed the physician’s recommendation at prior clinic visits to undergo colonoscopy for colorectal cancer (CRC) screening, and during this visit he declined colonoscopy without first undergoing a less invasive screening test for CRC. The patient had no history of hematochezia or abnormal bowel movements but reported that his father had died from CRC at age 80 years. His hemoglobin was 13.7 g/dL (reference, 13.5-17.0 g/dL).