Colon cancer screening

Abstract

The past decade has seen extraordinary advances in colon cancer screening. Average-risk screening has now been validated, and national public and professional educational efforts to increase awareness and participation in screening are under way. Family history has been recognized as a common risk factor for colon cancer, and screening strategies that incorporate family history have been developed. The genes underlying the inherited syndromes of colon cancer have been identified, and clinical genetic testing for these syndromes has become available. The future will likely include the development of improved screening tests, the validation of high-risk screening approaches, and the development of genetic testing for the less severe but more common forms of familial risk.