Colon cancer is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers in the United States. It affects both men and women and is the second leading cause in cancer related deaths.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 142,672 people were diagnosed with colon cancer and 53,219 people died from it in 2007.
However, colon cancer can be prevented through regular screenings. A colonoscopy can find precancerous polyps that need to be removed before they turn into cancer, and diagnose and treat colon cancer in the earlier stages.
Screenings save lives. The CDC estimates that if everyone 50 years of age and older had regular screenings, up to 60% of colon cancer diagnoses and deaths could be prevented.
The CDC recommends colonoscopies to those age 50 and older. However, you may need to be tested earlier if:
• You or a close relative have had colorectal polypor colorectal cancer.
• You have inflammatory bowel disease.
• You have a genetic syndrome such as familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) or hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer.
