Leslie Cashel, MD is a gastroenterologist and an Associate Medical Director for Harvard Pilgrim Health Care of New England. Joann Lindenmayer, DVM, MPH is Chronic Disease Epidemiologist, Rhode Island Department of Health, and Clinical Assistant Professor of Community Health, Brown University School of Medicine. Objective The Rhode Island Department of Health assembled an Expert Panel on Cancer Screening to advise the Department on revising the State's current cancer control plan, published in 1989. After reviewing the current screening recommendations of national organizations and the most recent pertinent literature, the Panel proposed a recommendation for colorectal cancer screening.
Methods Review current colorectal cancer screening recommendations of national organizations.
Review the most recent literature pertinent to colorectal cancer screening. Propose colorectal cancer screening recommendations for the State's cancer control plan. Write a simple rationale for the proposed colorectal cancer screening recommendations. Invite comments on the proposed recommendations and rationale. Persons with a family history of hereditary syndromes associated with a high risk of colon cancer should be referred for diagnosis and management.