Episode 72 - Advancing Colorectal Cancer Prevention through RNA-Based Screening Innovation
Colorectal cancer remains the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths — yet it is also among the most preventable. In this episode of the YMyHealth Podcast, co-host Melissa Schenkman speaks with Dr. Erica Barnell, co-founder and Chief Medical Officer of Genoscopy, about how innovative diagnostics are transforming early detection and prevention.
Dr. Barnell shares her journey from physician-scientist to healthcare entrepreneur, and how her team developed ColoSense — the first FDA-approved RNA-based stool test for colorectal cancer screening. She explains why millennials and Gen Xers should not wait until age 50 to prioritize screening, how RNA technology provides greater accuracy in younger populations, and why accessible, non-invasive options are essential to overcoming barriers such as cost, time, and awareness.
She also highlights the urgent rise of early-onset colorectal cancer, the importance of shifting screening paradigms, and what the future may hold for preventive care — from lowering the recommended screening age to expanding diagnostics for inflammatory bowel disease.
Early detection saves lives! Listen now to hear how innovation is reshaping colorectal cancer screening, and share this episode with someone who may benefit from this information. Listen now!
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Highlights:
(02:16) The patient experience that inspired the creation of Geneoscopy and ColoSense
(06:11) Why colorectal cancer screening guidelines are changing — and what that means for younger adults
(07:38) The evolution from colonoscopy-only screening to at-home, non-invasive options
(10:19) How RNA technology improves test accuracy and clinical insight
(11:56) What differentiates ColoSense from other available screening tests
(15:09) The growing urgency of screening for adults under 50
(20:26) The potential for lowering the screening age through non-invasive methods
(22:32) A hopeful outlook on eliminating colorectal cancer through early detection
Links:
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Learn more about this episode's guest, Dr. Erica Barnell, and her company, Genoscopy, here: https://www.geneoscopy.com/about-us/our-leadership/
*Check out the work Genoscopy is doing in RNA-based technology and the ColoSense test here: https://www.geneoscopy.com/gastrointestinal-health/colorectal-cancer-screening/
https://www.geneoscopy.com/geneoscopys-new-fda-approved-stool-collection-method-simplifies-at-home-colorectal-cancer-screening/
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Learn about YMyHealth's Founder, Melissa Schenkman here: https://www.ymyhealth.com/team/melissa-schenkman
Thanks again to our sponsor, Dr. Sarah Diekman, Director of Diekman Dysautonomia! If you’d like to learn more about our sponsor and her practice that provides care to patients with POTS and Long COVID, go to https://dysautonomiaexpert.com