The colorectal cancer epidemic: challenges and opportunities for primary, secondary and tertiary prevention

Abstract

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is both one of the most common and one of the most preventable cancers globally, with powerful but strongly missed potential for primary, secondary and tertiary prevention. CRC incidence has traditionally been the highest in affluent Western countries, but it is now increasing rapidly with economic development in many other parts of the world. CRC shares several main risk factors, such as smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, physical inactivity and being overweight, with other common diseases; therefore, primary prevention efforts to reduce these risk factors are expected to have multiple beneficial effects that extend beyond CRC prevention, and should have high public health impact. A sizeable reduction in the incidence and mortality of CRC can also be achieved by offering effective screening tests, such as faecal immunochemical tests, flexible sigmoidoscopy and colonoscopy, in organised screening programmes which have been implemented in an increasing number of countries. Countries with early and high uptake rates of effective screening have exhibited major declines in CRC incidence and mortality, in contrast to most other countries. Finally, increasing evidence shows that the prognosis and quality of life of CRC patients can be substantially improved by tertiary prevention measures, such as the administration of low-dose aspirin and the promotion of physical activity.

Fig. 1

Estimated age-standardised incidence rate (standard: world population) of colorectal cancer in 2012 (source: Globocan 2012, International Agency for Research on Cancer)

Fig. 2

Trends in age-standardised CRC incidence (standard: world population) among pre-screening age groups, screening-eligible groups and the very elderly in affluent countries with long-standing (Germany and the United States) or recent (Netherlands and the United Kingdom) CRC screening programs, 1999–2014 (data sources:^–)