Colon Cancer Facts
Colon cancer (also known as colorectal cancer) is a type of cancer that begins in the large intestine (colon and rectum). It is one of the most common types of cancer, but with early detection and proper screening, it can often be treated successfully.
It's worth noting that African Americans have a 20% higher chance of getting colon cancer and a 40% higher chance of dying from it compared to other racial groups.
Several factors can increase your risk of colon cancer:
- Age: Most people diagnosed are older than 50.
- Family History: A history of colon cancer or polyps in close relatives increases your risk.
- Inherited Conditions: Such as Lynch syndrome and familial adenomatous polyposis, or FAP.
- Diet: High in red meat and processed meats.
- Lifestyle: Sedentary lifestyle, obesity, smoking, and heavy alcohol use.
- Other Conditions: Inflammatory intestinal conditions like Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.
What Colon Cancer Looks Like
View inside a healthy colon.
View inside a colon with a polyp.
Colon diagram.
Importance of Screening
Screening tests can find precancerous polyps, so they can be removed before they turn into cancer. Screening can also find colon cancer early when treatment works best.
Recommended Screening Methods
- Colonoscopy: Every 10 years.
- Fecal Immunochemical Test (FIT): Once a year.
- Stool DNA Test: Once a year or every 3 years.
- Flexible Sigmoidoscopy: Every 5 years.
- CT Colonography (Virtual Colonoscopy): Every 5 years.
- The Fecal Occult Blood Test (FOBT): Once a year.