Screening, surveillance, and prevention of colorectal cancer.

Colon cancer screening can be effective, but only with a high-quality program that assures adherence to all elements of the program. There is evidence in the United States of greater acceptance of screening and decreased incidence and mortality of colorectal cancer. Patient education is a key element of any effective screening program. It is hoped that future screening will develop better risk-stratification tools and enable targeting of screening to high-risk individuals.