Colorectal cancer (CRC) has the second highest mortality rate of all cancers and is the third most common cancer in the UK, with over 30 000 cases diagnosed in 2008 [1]. The majority of CRCs are diagnosed at a relatively late stage (63% at Dukes C or more advanced), and almost 50% of patients newly diagnosed are expected to die within 5 years. Early stage CRCs (Dukes A) are associated with a significantly more favorable prognosis, with a 5-year survival rate of >85% [2]. The detection and removal of precancerous lesions (i.e. adenomas) has been shown to reduce the incidence of CRCs. Thus, CRC is ideal for a screening program because of its natural history. The most recent US cancer statistics have shown a decrease in CRC incidence in both sexes [3]. This reduction may be due to increasing public awareness of the disease and increasing uptake of screening.