Pressing Challenges in Colorectal Cancer Screening

This portion of our 5-part peer-to-peer discussion on the importance of colorectal cancer (CRC) screening focuses on the contemporary challenges of getting patients to engage in screening and how to effectively discuss screening with patients.

In this video, our moderator Michael Sapienza is joined by Frank Colangelo, MD, Gursimran Kochhar, MD, and Thomas Imperiale, MD, as the experts engage in a conversation about different barriers to screening and strategies for effectively engaging patients in the shared decision-making process surrounding screening.

Sapienza introduces the topic and inquires about what each expert sees as the most pressing challenge for getting their patients screened, to which Kocchar describes both a lack of access to colonoscopy and patient willingness to undergo the procedure. In his response, Imperiale emphasizes the importance of weighing the risks and benefits of every screening option, whether it is a colonoscopy or a noninvasive alternative.

Sapienza then asks Colangelo about strategies he uses to effectively engage patients in a shared decision-making process. Although he walks his patients through all of their screening options, Colangelo says he also stresses the importance of eventually getting a colonoscopy if their result on a noninvasive test comes back abnormal.

Check out the rest of our discussion:

Part 1: Updates in Colorectal Cancer Screening Recommendations

Part 2: Pressing Challenges in Colorectal Cancer Screening

Part 3: Reaching Patients in Need of Screening for Colorectal Cancer

Part 4: Navigating Patient Histories, Risk Factor Conversations in CRC Screening

Part 5: Appropriate Guidance for CRC Screening Age, Role of Advocacy Organizations

Our Experts:

Michael Sapienza, chief executive officer of the Colorectal Cancer Alliance, the largest colon cancer advocacy group in the country, and member of the American Cancer Society’s National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable steering committee.

Frank Colangelo, MD, an internist, vice president, and chief quality officer for Premier Medical Associates, a large multispecialty group within Allegheny Health Network as well as a member of the American Cancer Society’s National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable steering committee.

Gursimran Kochhar, MD, a gastroenterologist, associate division chief of the Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, and medical director of Endoscopic Innovations at Allegheny Health Network.

Thomas Imperiale, MD, principal investigator of the BLUE-C trial, research scientist at Regenstrief Institute, and Lawrence Lumeng Professor of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at Indiana University School of Medicine.

Imperiale has no relevant disclosures to report. Colangelo has no disclosures to report. Relevant disclosures for Kochhar include CorEvitas Research, Eli Lilly, Boston Scientific Endoscopy, Olympus Endoscopy, and Pentax Endoscopy. Sapienza has no relevant disclosures to report.