|
Changes
in diet (increased intake of vegetables and other sources of fiber
and decreased intake of red meat and alcohol), increased physical
activity and screening for colorectal cancer or adenomatous polyps
may have played a role in more recently observed declines in incidence
and death rates, suggesting the potential for increased benefits in
the future. [ 13 ] The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, the American
Cancer Society and the Interdisciplinary Task Force established new
screening guidelines for colorectal cancer that were published in
the mid-1990s. The American Cancer Society guidelines currently recommend
that individuals age 50 and older at average risk have:
Individuals at moderate or high risk should consult with their physicians to have earlier or more frequent screenings as part of an approved management plan. Table 4 outlines the ACS guidelines in more detail. |