Colorectal cancer incidence and screening - United States, 2008 and 2010

Abstract

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States among cancers that affect both men and women. Screening for CRC reduces incidence and mortality. In 2008, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommended that persons aged 50-75 years at average risk for CRC be screened for the disease by using one or more of the following methods: fecal occult blood testing (FOBT) every year, sigmoidoscopy every 5 years (with high-sensitivity FOBT every 3 years), or colonoscopy every 10 years.