New Alliance Aims to Close America's Colorectal Cancer Screening Gap

NEW YORK, NY – December 29, 2025 – A new partnership between a leading patient advocacy group and a precision oncology innovator aims to tackle one of public health's most persistent challenges: the millions of Americans who are not being screened for colorectal cancer. The Global Healthy Living Foundation (GHLF) and Guardant Health have joined forces to launch a major educational initiative designed to boost awareness, improve access, and ultimately save lives through early detection.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most preventable and treatable cancers when found early. Yet, it remains a leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States. This paradox is largely driven by a significant "screening adherence gap." Despite clear guidelines from organizations like the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommending screening begin at age 45, nearly one-third of the eligible population is not up to date. This collaboration seeks to close that gap by demystifying the screening process and highlighting the growing number of options available to patients.

The Persistent Barriers to Screening

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), only about 67% of adults aged 45 to 75 were current with their colorectal cancer screening in 2021. This leaves tens of millions of people at unnecessary risk for a disease that can be stopped in its tracks by removing precancerous polyps found during screening.

The reasons for this gap are complex and deeply personal. For many, the primary barrier is the colonoscopy itself—the most well-known screening method. The procedure involves a thorough bowel preparation, sedation, and requires taking time off from work, not only for the test but for recovery. Fear of the procedure, discomfort, and logistical hurdles present formidable obstacles. Beyond the colonoscopy, barriers include a simple lack of awareness about the need to get screened, confusion over different test options, cost concerns, and insufficient access to specialized medical facilities, particularly in rural areas.

"Our goal is to empower people with trusted, accessible information that removes the stigma and confusion that too often surrounds colorectal cancer screening," said Seth Ginsberg, Co-Founder and President of GHLF, in a statement announcing the partnership. The foundation, known for its patient-centered online community CreakyJoints, plans to leverage its expertise in direct-to-patient education to amplify this message.

Beyond the Colonoscopy: A New Wave of Options

A central pillar of the new initiative is to broaden public understanding that screening is no longer a one-size-fits-all proposition. While colonoscopy remains a critical "gold standard" for its ability to both detect and remove polyps in a single procedure, a growing arsenal of less-invasive tests is changing the landscape of cancer prevention.

For years, stool-based tests like the fecal immunochemical test (FIT) and the multi-target stool DNA test (mt-sDNA), known commercially as Cologuard, have offered at-home alternatives that increase compliance. Now, the frontier is expanding to include blood-based screening tests, often called liquid biopsies.

Guardant Health is at the forefront of this innovation. The company has developed Guardant Shield, a blood test designed to detect colorectal cancer signals in the bloodstream. The test was evaluated in the comprehensive SHIELD study involving over 20,000 participants, and the company submitted its application for premarket approval to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in late 2023 for use in average-risk individuals. While still awaiting a final decision, the prospect of a simple blood draw for CRC screening represents a potential paradigm shift.

Medical experts widely agree that the key to closing the screening gap is choice. The consensus, echoed by groups like the American College of Gastroenterology, is that "the best test is the one that gets done." Less-invasive options serve as a crucial first step for many. A positive result from a stool or blood test requires a follow-up diagnostic colonoscopy, but for the majority who test negative, it provides a convenient way to stay on top of their health without the burdens of a more invasive procedure.

A Strategic Alliance for Public Health

The partnership between a nonprofit patient advocate and a for-profit diagnostics company represents a modern approach to public health challenges. Each organization brings a distinct and complementary strength to the table.

GHLF has a long track record of building trusted communities and delivering evidence-based health information directly to patients. Their model focuses on education and empowerment, helping individuals navigate complex healthcare decisions. By taking the lead on the educational front, GHLF can provide unbiased information about the full spectrum of screening options, helping patients have more informed conversations with their doctors.

Guardant Health, on the other hand, provides the technological innovation that makes the message of "more options" a concrete reality. "Improving screening adherence requires working across the healthcare ecosystem to ensure people have the information and access they need to get screened," noted Dr. Craig Eagle, Guardant Health's Chief Medical Officer. The collaboration allows the company's scientific advancements to be contextualized within a broader patient-first educational framework.

This type of cross-sector collaboration is not without its complexities. To maintain public trust, it is critical that the advocacy group's educational mission remains independent and comprehensive, providing information on all guideline-recommended screening methods, not just the products of its corporate partner. The stated goal of the partnership—to broaden awareness of diverse screening options—suggests an alignment with this principle.

Tackling Critical Health Disparities

Perhaps the most significant potential of this initiative lies in its ability to address longstanding health disparities in colorectal cancer outcomes. Data consistently shows that racial and ethnic minorities, including African Americans and Hispanic individuals, as well as those in lower socioeconomic brackets and rural communities, have lower screening rates and consequently suffer higher mortality from the disease.

Many of the barriers to screening—such as lack of transportation, inability to take time off work, and distance from medical centers—are magnified in these underserved populations. Less-invasive tests, which can be done at home or via a simple blood draw at a local clinic, directly mitigate many of these logistical hurdles.

By combining accessible technology with culturally competent and targeted educational outreach—a specialty of GHLF—the partnership has the potential to make meaningful inroads in closing these equity gaps. The success of the initiative will ultimately be measured not just by an overall increase in screening rates, but by its ability to reach those who have historically been left behind. By making early detection more accessible for everyone, the collaboration hopes to change the narrative of colorectal cancer from one of disparity and loss to one of prevention and survival.