BMJ  2006;333:54-55 (8 July), doi:10.1136/bmj.333.7558.54

Editorial

Colorectal cancer in primary care

Even with national screening, primary care can do more to cut mortality

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

Primary care has a substantial role in reducing the public health burden of colorectal cancer. Given that mortality from colorectal cancer increases with more advanced disease at diagnosis¹ and that most patients present with symptoms that prompted them to consult their general practitioner,² both patients and doctors need to recognise the symptoms that suggest a high risk of cancer.

In this week's BMJ du Toit and colleagues report a 10 year prospective study which confirms the importance of rectal bleeding as an indicative symptom for colorectal cancer.³ The study found that about one in 10 patients with new onset rectal bleeding had cancer. The authors say that general practitioners should investigate anyone aged 45 years and older who presents with rectal bleeding, with or without a change in bowel habit.

Lower gastrointestinal symptoms are common in general practice but largely non-specific,⁴ and general practitioners face considerable challenges in determining . . . [Full text of this article]

Division of Community Health Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH10 5PF
(david.weller@ed.ac.uk)

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This article has been cited by other articles:

• (2006). New-Onset Rectal Bleeding -- Colorectal Cancer Might Lurk Beneath. JWatch Emergency Med. 2006: 4-4 [Full text]  
• Newman, C. M, Nash, G. F, Armstrong, T., Darcy, K. (2006). Colorectal cancer and rectal bleeding in primary care: Rectal bleeding needs attention in primary care. BMJ 333: 201-201 [Full text]  

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Risk of colorectal cancer with rectal bleeding

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