Colorectal Cancer Screening Pathways and Regional Prevention and Control in Primary Healthcare

Colorectal cancer is a major cause of cancer morbidity and mortality worldwide, including in China. Screening can facilitate earlier detection and reduce disease burden, while primary healthcare institutions are central to population outreach, risk assessment, referral, and follow-up. However, resource constraints, limited public awareness, low screening adherence, and fragmented coordination continue to hinder implementation in community and rural settings. This mini review summarizes the epidemiological and health-economic rationale for colorectal cancer screening in primary healthcare and discusses organizational models, risk-stratified screening and referral, workforce training, quality control, data management, and information sharing. Available evidence supports coordinated pathways that link noninvasive initial screening to timely colonoscopy and follow-up, supported by clear governance, trained personnel, and traceable data systems. The ongoing Yazhou District program is included briefly as a descriptive example of how these components may be organized in practice. Future research should evaluate uptake, positivity, colonoscopy completion, lesion detection, adverse events, costs, and longer-term outcomes in diverse primary-care settings.