Hemoccult screening for colorectal cancer.

A community hemoccult screening project for colorectal cancer resulted in the processing of 18,198 specimens. Positive test results were reported in 3 percent of the total, which ultimately resulted in the identification of 20 colorectal malignancies (0.1 percent) and 53 benign polyps (0.3 percent). The number of malignancies and polyps identified was disappointingly low. Our findings would challenge the concept of unsupervised mass screening from the viewpoint of cost-effectiveness; however, because of the numerous voluntary services and supplies, this particular project was useful in educating the public about early colon cancer detection.