Guardant Health and James van der Beek join forces to raise awareness about new advances in colorectal cancer screening in adults over 45 years old
- Among patients who die of colorectal cancer (CRC), 75% are often considered unpleasant or inconvenient and therefore have no screening.
- Guardant's FDA-approved Shield provides screening and screening from any simple blood draw targeting prescription healthcare providers over 45 years of age
- Van der Beek speaks for the first time after CRC diagnosis, advocating more people to screen
Leading precision oncology company Guardant Health, Inc. (NASDAQ:GH) today announced a partnership with actor and health advocate James van der Beek to raise awareness about colorectal cancer (CRC) screening and Shield™ blood tests. Shield, who received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) last year, offers a convenient and more pleasing new option for qualified individuals over the age of 45.
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Known for iconic characters College Blues, Rules of Attraction and Don't believe in Apartment 23Van Der Beek has created many memorable characters in his over 20 television and film careers, both on screen and as producers, directors and writers. Van Der Beek made his CRC diagnosis public in November 2024 to encourage others to control their health. Today, he talks for the first time about the critical importance of the latest information on the CRC screening guide.
“I was 46 and in good health and didn't know I had stage 3 colorectal cancer. It was the second fatal cancer, but the most curable cancer is the most important when I was in trouble early, which makes screening crucial.” “I'm happy to learn about Guard's Shield Blood Test because it's a more pleasant and convenient way to screen, especially for those who are hesitant. I've learned a lot on the journey of cancer, but I don't want anyone to want that. Simply put, the screening can save your life. If you're 45 or older, make sure you have information about screening guidelines and choices with your doctor.”
CRC is a major health problem, with more than 50,000 Americans dying from the disease each year, making it the second deadly cancer found in the early stages of the United States, because when CRC is in its early stages, the five-year survival rate is more than 90%, but when symptoms usually occur, the five-year survival rate is more than 90% in the late stages. Despite these odds, more than 50 million people (one in a quarter and more American adults) avoid screening in part because traditional methods are seen as unpleasant or inconvenient.
“We thank James for his work to raise awareness for his personal story, which demonstrates the importance of screening and early detection.” “Our goal is to ensure that everyone screening for colorectal cancer is screened – the Shield Blood Test is an important step in making screening more convenient and accessible nationwide. We are committed to saving lives through early detection, and with the help of James, we hope more Americans take this critical step.”
“In my primary care practice, I’m on the frontline of colorectal cancer, and screening is one of the best tools we have to help us capture and treat colorectal cancer at an early stage,” said Dr. Angel Lazo, an internist in New Jersey. “In my practice, it's difficult for patients to screen with traditional methods. The choice of supplemental shields makes it more convenient, expands screening, provides more relaxation to more people, reassures them – and makes me their doctor.”
SHIELD is the first blood test approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as the primary screening option for CRC. It is suitable for older disease risks aged 45 and older, which can be ordered by any prescription medical provider. Using a shield, individuals can be screened through simple blood draws, and the results are usually obtained within two weeks. Recently, the National Comprehensive Cancer Network has included Shield blood tests in its updated CRC screening guidelines, paving the way for improved patient access and other major clinical guidelines inclusions.
For more information on Shield blood tests, visit www.shieldcancerscreen.com.
About the health of the guards
Guardant Health is a leading precision oncology company dedicated to protecting health and giving everyone more time to get rid of cancer. Founded in 2012, Guadant transforms patient care and accelerates new cancer therapies by providing key insights on driving disease through its advanced blood and tissue testing, real-world data and AI analytics. Guard testing helps improve outcomes at all stages of care, including screening for early detection of cancer, monitoring for recurrence of early cancers, and treatment options for patients with advanced cancer. For more information, visit GuardanThealth.com and follow the company on LinkedIn x (Twitter) and Facebook.
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