A prospective randomised trial in order to determine the benefit of preoperative oral iron supplementation for patients undergoing elective colorectal cancer resection

Primary objectives: 1.To determine whether giving iron tablets to patients for 2 weeks before a colorectal cancer operation prevents or reduces anaemia requiring blood transfusion.
Primary endpoint: Blood transfusion requirement
Secondary endpoints: Change in haemoglobin produced by oral iron supplementsSide effect profile produced by oral iron supplements