Colorectal cancer screening in Australia: An update

Abstract

Background: Colorectal cancer is the second most common cancer in Australia. The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) has introduced new recommendations for the prevention, early detection and management of colorectal cancer. General practitioners play a key part in the advocacy, risk stratification and implementation of colorectal cancer screening on the basis of a patient’s individual risk.

Objective: The aim of this paper is to summarise the NHMRC recommendations pertaining to screening so that they may be applied in general practice.

Discussion: The recommended strategy for population screening in Australia remains the immunochemical faecal occult blood test, commencing at age 50 years in asymptomatic individuals with no family history of colorectal cancer. This test is to be performed every two years to age 74 years. Individuals with a family history of colorectal cancer will need appropriate risk stratification. Aspirin should now be considered for all patients aged 50–70 years in the prevention of colorectal cancer.