Colorectal
Surveillance
Insufficient evidence regarding the optimal screening strategy for this population means that a number of published screening recommendations exist differing in the definition of risk, type and frequency of tests recommended, and the age at which individuals should start screening.
For people in this category, their risk of CRC is as high at age 40 years as that of the average population at age 50 years, which is about 1%. This would justify biennial screening with iFOBT from age 40 to 49 years. By age 50 years, their risk is about 4%, which is about four times the risk of the average population and colonoscopy every 5 years is advised from 50 to 74 years.r There have been no studies conducted to determine the utility of beginning screening 10 years before the earliest diagnosis in the family, which was a recommendation in previous guidelines.r
Risk-reducing medication
There have been no trials of CRC prevention for this risk category. Considerable evidence supports the effectiveness of aspirin as risk-reducing medication for CRC in high-risk patients with Lynch syndrome.r
Randomised controlled trials were reviewed by Cancer Council Australia and this led to the guarded conclusion that aspirin is effective in the primary prevention of CRC. After taking into account the observational epidemiological data and other potential benefits, the revised guidelines have made a strong recommendation to consider universal aspirin chemoprevention except where contraindicated, especially for those with excess cardiovascular risk.r Thus it has been included in these guidelines for those at moderate risk.
Modifiable lifestyle risk factors for colorectal cancer
For a summary of the evidence for modifiable lifestyle risk factors for CRC, see Cancer Council Australia: Colorectal Cancer Guidelines Working Party. Clinical practice guidelines for the prevention, early detection and management of colorectal cancer. These recommendations apply to the general population; there is no specific evidence for the moderate-risk group.