Colon Cancer Facts

Are you interested in colon cancer facts? The subject of colon cancer is brought up frequently, because it is a very common type of cancer. It’s good to know a little bit about it. Keep reading to find out some pretty interesting facts that can help you be a little more knowledgeable about colon cancer.

1. Second leading cause of cancer related-death in U.S. Of all the different types of cancers that affect both men and women, colon cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States.
2. Most commonly diagnosed out of all the types of cancers. In the United States, colon cancer is one of the most commonly diagnosed. According to the CDC, in the year 2006, 139,127 people (70,270 men and 68,857 women) in the U.S. were diagnosed with colon cancer, making it the third most common cancer in men and women.
3. One of the most curable out of all the types of cancer. Colon cancer is one of the most curable types of cancer if it is diagnosed early on. If it is caught at its earliest stages, the chances for it being cured can be as high as 90 percent.
4. Your lifestyle can affect your chance of getting colon cancer. Eating a low-fiber, high-fat diet, being overweight or obese, smoking and being inactive are all factors that can increase your risk of getting colon cancer.
5. Heredity plays a role. If your family has a tendency to have many colon polyps, (small benign growths that occur in the colon and rectum that can develop into cancerous growths) it can result in colon cancer at a young age.
6. A little more on polyps. Precancerous polyps can be in your colon for years before invasive cancer develops. When the polyps are removed, the chance of cancer is removed.
7. Screenings/tests to detect colon cancer. It’s important for a person to get screened for colon cancer--the earlier the colon cancer is detected, the better your chances of successfully getting rid of the cancer become. There are several tests that can be done to determine whether or not a person has colon cancer or might get colon cancer. These tests include: colonoscopy, digital rectal exam, fecal occult blood test of the stool, flexible sigmoidoscopy, virtual colonoscopy and x-ray studies.
8. Treatment. There are a variety of treatments individuals suffering from colon cancer can undergo in order to get rid of it. These treatments include surgery to remove the cancerous tissue or tumors (polyps), chemotherapy and radiation therapy.