Colorectal cancer screening

Last year, an estimated 135 000 people were newly diagnosed with colorectal cancer, and 55 000 of these people died. This makes colorectal cancer the third most commonly diagnosed cancer and the second most deadly cancer in the United States. The average American lifetime risk of developing colorectal cancer has been estimated at 5%.(14) Early detection has been shown to decrease mortality of colorectal cancer. The 5-year survival rate for patients with localized disease is estimated at 91%. This decreases to 60% in patients with regional spread and to 6% with distant metastases.(12) These statistics have led several groups to create screening guidelines for clinicians to follow in an attempt to find and treat colorectal cancer early.