The latest advances in colorectal cancer screening

From stool tests to blood tests, the range of options for detecting this malignancy is broadening.

April 15, 2026

By Maureen Salamon, Executive Editor, Harvard Women's Health Watch

Reviewed by Lawrence S. Friedman, MD, Contributor; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing

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A hand holds a magnifying glass that shows an illustration of the digestive tract, representing a colonoscopy.

Amid rapid change, certain facts about colorectal cancer persist: it remains one of the deadliest cancers in the United States, and it's highly treatable when caught early.

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About the Author

Maureen Salamon, Executive Editor, Harvard Women's Health Watch

Maureen Salamon is the executive editor of Harvard Women’s Health Watch. She also writes for the Harvard Health Letter, Harvard Heart Letter, and Harvard Men’s Health Watch, as well as for Harvard Health Publishing’s flagship website. … See Full Bio

View all posts by Maureen Salamon

About the Reviewer

Lawrence S. Friedman, MD, Contributor; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing

Dr. Lawrence Friedman is the Anton R. Fried, MD, Chair of the department of medicine at Newton-Wellesley Hospital, assistant chief of medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital, and a professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and … See Full Bio

View all posts by Lawrence S. Friedman, MD

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