"Early CRC detection offers the best outcome for individuals and healthcare policy. The treatment cost of late-stage CRC is sometimes more 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's why more countries or regions are promoting early screening programs. For example, 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 is scope to enhance the awareness of other tests such as fecal tests. Though colonoscopy (68.2%) is the best-known screening test, it is more expensive and cumbersome relative to fecal testing which is lesser known at 49.5%. To promote this more affordable and flexible option, fecal testing awareness needs to be enhanced.

Doctors are the biggest factor for respondents to go for screening in the absence of symptoms. 62.5% will heed their doctor's advice to undergo CRC screening. Therefore, it is vital that doctors are made more aware of CRC symptoms, ask the right questions to identify potential hereditary genetic risk and offer patients a range of screening options, to fit different lifestyles and budgets. In our opinion, the best colorectal cancer screening test is the one a patient will do.

Respondents are split when asked about bringing their family members for screening. 55.7% are aware that a family history of CRC increases their risk. According to the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines, these family members should start screening at age 40 or 10 years before the earliest diagnosis of CRC in the family. The good news is that 67.2% who had CRC or a family history of CRC have taken their family members for screening. Conversely, only 31.2% of all respondents have taken their family members for CRC screening.

To read and view country or region-level comparisons, please see link to access the full BGI Genomics State of Colorectal Cancer Awareness Report 2023.