Tired of invasive colon tests? The Mayo Clinic may just have what you need

A new test from the Mayo Clinic may help those who find colon cancer screenings too invasive or arduous.

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - The test is the first to look for cancer-causing genes in the DNA of a patient's stool, and was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in September.

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The test is likely to boost the amount of people who screen for colon cancer, perhaps by the millions, especially because of its ease of use compared to traditional colonoscopies.

The Cologuard test will be offered via prescription at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota.

Currently, most colon cancer tests look for blood which could be a sign that there is a tumor. Cologuard does this, and detects DNA that could signal cancer or precancerous growths-called polyps.

Patients using the new test send their stool sample to a lab where it is tested.

Right now it is too soon to know if Cologuard will actually lower the risk of death from colon cancer. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, which hands out screening advice, has not yet tested the product.

Currently, Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States and is fourth worldwide.

More than 143,000 new cases and 52,000 deaths are expected in the U.S. alone this year.

Of those who are recommended to get a colon screening, only 60% do so.

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