Patient and Physician Reminders to Promote Colorectal Cancer Screening

Abstract

Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer mortality in the United States.1 Screening programs involving fecal occult blood testing (FOBT), flexible sigmoidoscopy, and colonoscopy lower the incidence of colorectal cancer by removing precancerous adenomas, detect cancers at more curable early stages, and reduce colorectal cancer mortality.2-6 National guidelines strongly recommend screening for colorectal cancer for average-risk adults 50 years and older.7-9