National Colorectal Cancer Early Detection Program: overview of experience gained over the last seventeen years (2007-2024)

Abstract

The National Colorectal Cancer Early Detection Program was launched towards the end of 2007. The Croatian Society for Oncology contributed signifi cantly to the development of the National Colorectal Cancer Early Detection Program. The Program aims to decrease colorectal cancer (CRC) mortality by 15% in the fi rst fi ve years of the Program’s implementation, by covering 75% of the population aged 50-74 years by 2015. The Program is based on fecal occult blood test (FOBT) screening every two years. Program coordinators are the Croatian Institute of Public Health (CIPH) and regional Institutes for Public Health. The proportion of screened persons is 25% and is insuffi cient for achieving the goals of the National Program. It is considered that family medicine doctors and community health nurses need to get involved more actively in the Program by motivating the persons invited for screening.

Keywords

• colorectal cancer
• epidemiology
• early detection
• screening
• National Program