Colorectal cancer screening in the elderly: Can we stop the train?
The mortality from colorectal cancer has decreased substantially in the U.S. during the past decade. While some of the improvement is due to better cancer treatment and reduced risk factors, the largest proportion is thought due to screening. The concept that early detection saves lives has now become well recognized. The harms of screening — particularly among individuals with limited life expectancy — are less well appreciated.
Royce et al. recently published a …