Prevention and screening of gastrointestinal cancers.
OBJECTIVE
This article reviews the current recommendations and data supporting various screening and prevention strategies for colorectal cancer (CRC) in average and high-risk individuals.


METHODS
Published research reports, epidemiologic data, and published guidelines from professional organizations.


CONCLUSIONS
Properly applied screening tools can potentially decrease the morbidity and mortality associated with CRC.


CONCLUSIONS
Nurses need to be aware of current recommendations for the early detection of CRC so they can provide patients with an accurate assessment of risk for developing CRC and education about the appropriate CRC screening guidelines.
Mahon
Suzanne M
SM
Department of Internal Medicine, School of Nursing, Saint Louis University, St Louis, MO 63110, USA. mahonsm@slu.edu
D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005770:Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000451:nursing / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D018570:Risk Assessment