Full textAbstract
Colorectal cancer is one of the most frequent types of cancer in the Western World; in Norway it is the most prevalent. Screening or mass-examination of individuals without symptoms of cancer allows cancer to be diagnosed and treated at an asymptomatic stage. On the basis of a randomized controlled trial we estimate the cost per life-year gained for six different strategies for colorectal cancer screening. Individuals in the age group 50 to 64 years were randomly selected for either flexible sigmoidoscopy or a combination of flexible sigmoidoscopy and a faecal occult blood test. A comprehensive dataset was collected from the trial to estimate costs and gained life-years. There are some indications that screening for colorectal cancer can be cost-effective, but the results are not statistically significant after this short follow-up period.
Screening allows cancer to be diagnosed and treated at an asymptomatic stage. This report show there are some indicators for that screening for colorectal cancer also is cost effective.
ISSN 1890-1735
ISBN 82-7756-190-3