Screening and Prevention of Colorectal Cancer

Screening aims at reducing mortality from bowel cancer by early diagnosis of the disease.Faecal occult blood testing (FOBT) is intended for screening of asymptomatic persons. Symptomatic persons must be examined.Screening policies vary from country to country.Removing adenomatous colorectal polyps from symptomless individuals reduces the incidence of and mortality from colorectal cancer. However, all adenomas do not turn malignant during a person's lifetime.Follow-up endoscopies in persons belonging to risk groups for bowel cancer are performed according to local guidelines.