How much does a colorectal cancer test cost

We know that colonoscopy screening can detect colorectal cancer early, thereby increasing life expectancy. However, the question is how to develop an effective and convenient screening program. From a medical point of view, successful screening should be non-invasive and inexpensive, and can accurately diagnose asymptomatic diseases at the treatable stage of the disease. Currently, the main methods for screening colorectal cancer are fecal occult blood tests and colonoscopy. So how much does colorectal cancer testing cost?

In China, colonoscopy is not a very expensive means of examination. The general cost of colonoscopy is about 300 yuan. Will health screening increase the financial burden on patients? Let's try to do the math to see if it is cost-effective. The general screening method now is to check the fecal occult blood test three times a year and perform a colonoscopy every 3-5 years. If a person starts colorectal cancer screening at the age of 40, the cost by the age of 75 is: 35 years of fecal occult blood cost 36×35=1260 yuan, colonoscopy cost every 3 years: 300×35/3=3500 yuan, a total of 4760 yuan, which is not a heavy burden for anyone. However, when a person has colorectal cancer and needs surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy, the cost of surgery is generally around 35,000 yuan, and six courses of chemotherapy are at least around 30,000 yuan, so it costs at least 60,000 yuan. So even from the perspective of health economics, colorectal cancer screening is the most cost-effective.