Colorectal cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer in the US and Europe. Thousands of people are diagnosed with the disease every year and nearly half of these die as a result. As colorectal cancer is curable when detected early, a significant proportion of these deaths could be prevented by earlier diagnosis.

Much has changed since the publication of the first edition of this book in 2001: introduction of screening programs, improved diagnosis and surgery for rectal cancer, and...