Colorectal Cancer Screening in Europe

Despite the considerable progress of both conservative and surgical forms of treatment for advanced carcinomas, the mortality rate in Europe has remained high. The countries with the highest incidence and mortality rates are the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland while Greece and Romania are the countries with the lowest number of cases. It has been concluded that the number of new colon cancer cases and the mortality rate can only be reduced through an intensive campaign of prevention and a population-related screening programme. In 2000, the European Union recommended the launch of colon cancer screening programmes for all member states. On behalf of the International Digestive Cancer Alliance, we conducted (between November 2004 and May 2006) a survey among all 40 national gastroenterology societies in Europe to establish the current state of colon cancer screening.

References

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