Population Screening for Colorectal Cancer

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Population Screening for Colorectal Cancer

Date of publication: May 1998

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Summary
This report on screening for cancer of the colon and rectum (large bowel) in New Zealand is the result of an 18-month project to examine the role of screening and other measures to reduce mortality from this disease. The review was undertaken by a Working Party on Screening for Colorectal Cancer.

The Working Party was established after a 16 percent reduction in colorectal cancer (CRC) mortality was demonstrated with faecal occult blood testing in two overseas population-based randomised controlled trials: in Nottingham, UK and in Funen, Denmark.

The Working Party acknowledges that based on the Nottingham trial, over an eight-year period an estimated 512 New Zealanders may survive CRC if population screening was offered to those aged 50 to 74 year. However it does not recommend such screening be introduced.

It said it may be difficult in New Zealand to meet levels of participation, quality control and adequate resourcing (particularly to meet increased colonoscopy demand), similar to those in the international trials. These uncertainties must be weighed, the Working Party said, along with the small but real potential for harm.

The Working Party recommended that pilot CRC screening programmes should not be introduced, but said this decision should be reviewed as more information became available. It also recommended further consideration be undertaken, including in the international arena, to advise on surveillance recommendations for high risk groups.

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Population Screening for Colorectal Cancer (PDF, 775 KB)

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Date of publication: May 1998

ISBN 0-478-10477-4