Guaiac Fecal Occult Blood Tests and Mortality: A 30-Year Follow-up of Two Pooled Trials

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality globally.1 Survival the disease strongly associated with stage at diagnosis, 5-year survival rates reaching more than 90% when diagnosed I, compared just 10% IV.2 Fortunately, CRC amenable to screening, which enables detection CRCs early, treatable stages, prevention via removal premalignant polyps.3 Results from national survey in United States suggest that most (?80%) individuals undergoing screening participate regime colonoscopy every 10 years, whereas <10% undergo annual fecal occult blood tests (FOBTs) only ?1% flexible sigmoidoscopy 5 years FOBT 1–3 years.