Colorectal cancer: From prevention to personalized medicine

Figure 1 Colorectal cancer: From prevention to treatment. The figure shows the different alternatives to prevent and treat colorectal cancer (CRC). When the disease is not present, the best alternative is to have a healthy lifestyle (primary prevention). To detect CRC in its early stages without symptoms, screening programs are the paramount option (secondary prevention); and finally, when symptoms appear, the treatment to be considered will depend to the existence of prognostic biomarkers and the personal or family history. All these factors will be decisive in the evolution of the disease. FOBT: Fecal occult blood test; FAP: Familial adenomatous polyposis; HNPCC: Hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer.