About Colon Cancer

Colon Cancer: A Brief Backgrounder

An estimated 112,340 Americans will be diagnosed with colon cancer (55,290 men and 57,050 women) and 41,420 new cases of rectal cancer (23,840 men and 17,580 women) will be diagnosed in 2007.¹

In Western countries, cancer of the large intestine and rectum is the second most common type of cancer and the second leading cause of cancer death.²

Colorectal cancer is more likely to occur as people get older. More than 90% of people with this kind of cancer are diagnosed after age 50. The average age this disease is diagnosed in is 72.³

People at highest risk tend to consume a high-fat, low-fiber diet.² Some studies suggest that people who eat a diet that is low in fruits and vegetables may have a higher risk. Close relatives (parents, brothers or sisters, or children) of a person with colon cancer are somewhat more likely to suffer from colon cancer.³

The good news about colon cancer is that early detection may lead to a cure.

Nationally, people whose colon cancers are treated at an early stage have five-year survival rates of 90%. However, only 39% of colon cancers are detected in the earliest stages.¹

Talk to your doctor about your risk of colon cancer and the importance of early detection.

One of the ways your doctor can check for colon cancer is through a procedure called a colonoscopy. It is an exam that allows your doctor to detect and remove polyps. A polyp is a swollen and enlarged membrane along the lining of the colon.

In general, people age 50 and older should have a colonoscopy once every 10 years. As stated above, if you have a close relative with colon cancer, your doctor may suggest that you get screened at an earlier age or more often. Ask your doctor what's best for you.

For more information about the colonoscopy procedure, click here.

To read answers to frequently asked questions about the colonoscopy procedure, click here.

¹ American Cancer Society. Detailed guide: colon and rectum cancer. Available at: http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_1X_What_are
_the_key_statistics_for_colon_and_rectum_cancer.asp?rnav=cri. Accessed: February 26, 2007.

² Drossman DA, Shaheen NJ. Symptoms and Diagnosis of Digestive Disorders. In: Beers MH, Fletcher AJ, Porter R, Berkwits M, Kaplan JL. The Merck Manual of Medical Information. 2nd ed. Whitehouse Station, NJ: Merck Research Laboratories; 2003:669-770.

³ National Cancer Institute. What you need to know about cancer of the colon and rectum. Available at: http://www.nci.nih.gov/cancertopics/wyntk/colon-and-rectal. Accessed: March 21, 2007.

⁴ National Cancer Institute. General information about colon cancer. Available at: http://www.webmd.com/colorectal-cancer/tc/Colon-cancer-Treatment-Patient-Information-NCI-PDQ-General-Information-About-Colon-Cancer. Accessed: March 27, 2007.