Different modalities for colorectal cancer screening: experiences in The Netherlands so far

In 2014, a nation-wide colorectal cancer (CRC) screening program was launched in The Netherlands. Every 2 years, men and women aged 55–75 years will be invited to participate in fecal immunochemical test screening. Participants with a positive test result will be scheduled for colonoscopy. Starting from 2006, screening pilots have been performed to ascertain the choice of an optimal screening modality, population acceptance, logistics and cost effectiveness, in order to ensure that a screening program with maximal benefits and the least amount of harms was offered to the Dutch population. In this overview, we will discuss the results of Dutch CRC screening pilots in which different screening modalities were studied, the preparations made before the launch of the nation-wide screening program, and finally the initial results and lessons learned so far from the Dutch CRC screening program.

Click here to view the full article in our partner journal Colorectal Cancer.