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Colorectal cancer is the third most frequent cause of death in Switzerland, approximately 4,000 people are diagnosed annually. Most colon carcinomas occur sporadically and develop from adenomas (polyps) whose latency is estimated to be more than ten years. Persons older than 50 years without a risk profile (for example without a positive family history) may develop colorectal cancer more frequently. To detect these adenomas at an early stage and to prevent progression into a carcinoma, screening procedures are important. There are several screening methods (stool tests such as hemoccult test, fecal immunological test, fecal DNA test and endoscopies such as recto-/sigmoidoscopy, ileo-colonoscopy, capsule endoscopy). It is equally important that prevention is used to sensitize the population to the screening, so that it is carried out primarily in the risk population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]