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Screening for Colorectal Cancer in the Elderly

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Colorectal Cancer Screening

Part of the book series: Clinical Gastroenterology ((CG))

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Abstract

Screening for colorectal cancer (CRC) in the elderly involves complex decision-making at the interface of gastroenterology, general internal medicine, geriatric medicine, public health, and medical ethics, and represents a unique and controversial issue in the modern health care landscape. Unlike starting and continuing screening, considerable uncertainty remains regarding the upper age limit, or appropriate set of circumstances, which would allow elderly patients to forgo CRC screening. This chapter will review issues pertaining to screening for CRC in elderly patients, including benefits and harms of screening, impact of screening on patient survival, and decision-making by patients and health care providers.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, USA

    Charles J. Kahi

  2. Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA

    Charles J. Kahi

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  1. Charles J. Kahi
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Correspondence to Charles J. Kahi .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Gastroenterology, University of Connecticut, 263 Farmington Avenue, Farmington, 06030, USA

    Joseph Anderson, MD

  2. Indiana University School of Medicine, 1481 W 10th street, 111G, Indianapolis, 46202, USA

    Charles Kahi, MD

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Kahi, C.J. (2011). Screening for Colorectal Cancer in the Elderly. In: Anderson, MD, J., Kahi, MD, C. (eds) Colorectal Cancer Screening. Clinical Gastroenterology. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-60761-398-5_11

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-60761-398-5_11

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-60761-397-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-60761-398-5

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