Colorectal Cancer: Screening

Key points

• most cancers develop from adenomatous polyps. Screening for colorectal cancer has been shown to reduce mortality by 16%
• the NHS now has a national screening programme offering screening every 2 years to all men and women aged 60 to 74 years in England, 50 to 74 years in Scotland. IPatients aged over 74 years may request screening
• eligible patients are sent faecal occult blood (FOB) tests through the post
• patients with abnormal results are offered a colonoscopy At colonoscopy, approximately:
• 5 out of 10 patients will have a normal exam