Following the success of the EU Guidelines for quality assurance in breast and cervical cancer screening, the Commission launched last week the first edition of the European Guidelines for Quality Assurance in Colorectal Cancer Screening and Diagnosis.
Colorectal cancer is one of the most common newly-diagnosed cancers and is the second most common cause of cancer death in the EU. Many of these deaths could be avoided through early detection, by making effective use of screening tests followed by appropriate treatment. That is why the Council of the European Union included colorectal cancer in its recommendation on cancer screening to EU member countries in 2003.
The comprehensive EU Guidelines were developed by a multi-disciplinary group of more than 90 experts from 21 EU countries and 11 other countries across the globe. The guidelines cover the entire screening process from invitation and organisation through to diagnosis and management of lesions detected through screening. For easy reference, there is a graded list of evidence-based recommendations at the beginning of each chapter that sums up the essential points that are discussed in detail in the chapter.
Like the EU Guidelines for breast and cervical cancer screening, the new Guidelines are expected to become an indispensable guide for colorectal cancer screening in the coming years. This, in turn, will save lives and help improve the quality of life of millions of EU citizens, their families and friends.
