Screening for Colorectal Cancer: Need for Controlled Trials

Excerpt

Abundant evidence supports the concept of screening for colorectal cancer. The disease is of sufficient magnitude to warrant dedication of public health resources for screening. More than 150 000 new cases of and over 65 000 deaths from this disease will occur in the U.S. in 1990 (1). The lifetime probability of a person developing large-bowel cancer is approximately 5%. Unlike most other types of cancer, the disease usually exists in a detectable and easily curable preclinical phase for a long time. Safe and sensitive diagnostic tests are available, and earlier treatment leads to improved survival. Most persons are at