Screening for colorectal cancer in the UK

Colorectal cancer fulfils the World Health Organisation criteria for disease screening. It is now well established that screening for colorectal cancer is effective in reducing both incidence as well as mortality. Various modalities of screening methods with inherent strengths and weaknesses are available. Due to the emergence of innovative new techniques, the best way ahead is debatable. Evidence indicates that faecal occult blood testing and ‘once only’ flexible sigmoidoscopy appears to be the most suitable mode of mass screening for the UK population.