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Background:  Modern, individualised therapies can improve the survival of patients with colorectal cancer. However, not all patients are referred for treatment to a certified colorectal cancer centre, where a tumor board supports the implementation of their therapy in accordance to guidelines. This study examines the feasibility and demand of a structured, online-based, qualified second opinion for patients with colorectal cancer., Method:  A 15-month pilot study between 2009 and 2011, offered patients with colorectal cancer to obtain a qualified second opinion of a tumour board based on an electronic patient record completed online with the assistance of a case manager. Life-satisfaction levels and quality of life (EORCT QLQ-C30) of the participants has been monitored for a year., Results:  In 95 % of the cases, a complete electronic patient record and a second opinion could be generated. Less than half of the participants received their first therapy recommendation from a clinic with a tumour board. The second opinion confirmed the initial medical opinion in 40 % of the cases - 33 % showed a partial and 27 % showed a significant deviation. In case of a deviation, the implementation of the second opinion improved the patients' quality of life., Conclusion:  Generating an online-based, qualified second opinion by an interdisciplinary tumour board is technically and logistically well feasible. The online-based second opinion could significantly improve the quality of treatment for patients with colorectal cancer in the future and thus improve their quality of life., Competing Interests: Christa Maar ist geschäftsführender Vorstand der Felix Burda Stiftung. Udo E. Beckenbauer ist Vorstand der Firma HMO Health Management Online AG. Alle anderen Autoren geben an, dass kein Interessenskonflikt vorliegt., (© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.)

The National Cancer Programme of the German Federal Administration aims to assess the present status of the national fight against cancer in Germany. Experts in their field have analysed the present target-performance comparison in different working groups dealing with topics from cancer prevention to follow-up and have developed recommendations as to how improvements in the various fields of cancer care may be achieved and mainly how these imrpovements may be implemented in day-to-day cancer care. The working group "Advancement of Colon Cancer Screening, Early Detection and Prevention" proposes the establishment of regulatory proposals for a nationwide, population-based, postal invitational process and, according to Pilot-Projects in Bavaria and Baden-Wuerttemberg, to evaluate the essential recommendations in data protection, logistics, documentation and financing. There are already several programmes in preparation--for example, the Saarland Offensive, based on the results of the KolosSal-Study., (© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.)