In the United States, colorectal cancer is one of the leading causes of death due to cancer.
Colorectal cancer is a disease in which cells in the colon or rectum (parts of the intestine) grow out of control. Sometimes it is called colon cancer. Early diagnosis can often lead to a complete cure.
Because you may not have symptoms at first, it is important to get screened. These tests can find problems before cancer develops. They can also find cancer early when it is easier to treat. If you are 45 to 75 years old, you should get a screening test for colorectal cancer.
You have a higher risk for colorectal cancer if you:
- Are older than 50
- Are Black/African American or of Eastern European descent
- Eat a lot of red or processed meats
- Have colorectal polyps which are abnormal growths in the colon and can develop into cancer
- Have inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn disease or ulcerative colitis)
- Have a family history of colon cancer (parent, sibling, or child)
If you are not sure if you should get a colon cancer screening, talk with your Primary Care Provider (PCP). There are several ways to screen for colon cancer including a stool test. You can talk together about which test is best for you. There are different kinds of treatments for colorectal cancer. Surgery can usually cure it when it is found early.
