Colorectal cancer screening

Colorectal cancer is an important problem in the United States, with over 1 30,000 new cases and 55,000 deaths each year. There is now strong evidence that screening for colorectal cancer with fecal occult blood testing can de crease mortality, and additional evidence that removing benign adenomas can decrease cancer incidence. Evidence-based screening guidelines depend on c olorectal cancer risk. Individuals at higher risk because of a personal or family history deserve more intensive screening than asymptomatic individua ls over age 50.