[Nationwide colorectal cancer screening]

Usually, colorectal cancer presents with complaints in a late stage, but can be detected in an earlier stage, with better prognosis, by colonoscopy. Using colonoscopy, also precancerous tumours, adenomas, can be detected and excised, but only in a national screening programme. However primary screening with colonoscopy is too burdensome and expensive. Out of all the screening alternatives, only of the faecal occult blood tests (faeces tests) a decreased colorectal cancer mortality has been proven. It stands to reason that the new generation immunochemical faeces tests, can reduce colorectal cancer mortality more effectively, and these tests have, more than the alternatives, a good balance between efficiency, straightforwardness and costs. Recently, the Dutch National Health Council recommended to introduce nationwide colorectal cancer screening, using an immunochemical faecal occult blood test.