Miller S F
Am Fam Physician. 1978 Sep;18(3):89-92.
The classic symptoms and signs of colorectal cancer (change in bowel habits, weight loss, melena or a palpable abdominal mass) signify advanced disease. Improvements in survival rates have not occurred in the last 15 years because the majority of patients have metastases at the time of surgery. Asymptomatic patients are detected by routinely screening stools for occult blood. If practiced routinely, this technique will improve survival statistics by identifying patients and instituting treatment at an earlier stage of disease.
结直肠癌的典型症状和体征（排便习惯改变、体重减轻、黑便或可触及的腹部肿块）意味着疾病已发展至晚期。在过去15年中，生存率并未得到改善，因为大多数患者在手术时已发生转移。无症状患者通过常规粪便潜血筛查得以发现。如果常规开展这项技术，通过在疾病早期识别患者并进行治疗，将会改善生存统计数据。
