Colorectal cancer screening in asymptomatic populations.

Abstract

Colorectal cancer is the second commonest cause of cancer death in the UK. An effective national screening programme is urgently required to reduce the substantial morbidity and mortality from the disease.

Faecal calprotectin and faecal occult blood tests in the diagnosis of colorectal carcinoma and adenoma

“…In the USA it accounts for 14% of cancer deaths with about 134 000 colorectal cancer registrations and 55 000 deaths each year1 while in the UK there are an annual 28 000 cancer registrations and 19 000 deaths due to this disease 2. Survival rates are closely related to the stage of cancer at the time of diagnosis and the most promising approach to reducing mortality rates is early detection of precancerous or cancerous lesions.…”

Fortnightly review: screening for asymptomatic colorectal cancer

“…Compliance in average risk populations depends on demographic, behavioural, and educational factors 44. Many people in the general population are ignorant of the sequence of adenoma to carcinoma, the concept of asymptomatic disease, and the potential benefits of screening.…”

Self-sampling in screening to reduce mortality from colorectal cancer: a qualitative exploration of the decision to complete a faecal occult blood test (FOBT)

“…27 It is not therefore possible to infer that beliefs predicting compliance in previous research will necessarily be salient to participants who have not previously had an opportunity to discuss FOBT with a doctor. 4. Since reactions to FOBT may be culturally speci c and in uenced by pre-existing levels of publicity, it is not possible to extrapolate directly from the ndings of studies conducted outside of the UK, when considering factors that may be important for the implementation of FOBT screening in the UK.…”

“…3 Survival rates are much higher at around 82-87% when disease is detected at an early stage indicating that colorectal cancer screening may signi cantly reduce morbidity and mortality from this disease. 4 There are three principal methods of screening for colorectal cancer: colonoscopy, exible sigmoidoscopy and faecal occult blood testing (FOBT), each having preventive and detective functions. Flexible sigmoidoscopy involves the insertion of a long tube tted with a video camera into the lower part of the bowel via the rectum.…”

“…Evidence from trials and community studies shows uptake rates varying between 25.5% and 77%, suggesting that much remains to be learned about FOBT screening behaviour. [4][5][6][7] It is well established in the cervical and breast cancer screening literature that psychological variables including health beliefs speci ed by theoretical frameworks such as the Health Belief Model, 8,9 the Theory of Planned Behaviour, 10 and Protection Motivation Theory, 11,12 are important predictors of screening uptake. [13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20] Less is understood about determinants of colorectal cancer screening.…”