Opinion

Too few people are screened for colon cancer. This new test might help.

Screening for colorectal cancer isn’t exactly something most people look forward to. It can be uncomfortable, invasive and time-consuming. No wonder 1 in 3 people who should get tested have never received any screening, according to the American Cancer Society.

Yet this is essential care, as it can detect cancer when it is in its early stages and easier to treat. In fact, colorectal cancer is the second-most-common cause of cancer death in the United States. More than 53,000 Americans are expected to die of it this year alone.