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Colon Cancer: The Facts
What is colon cancer?
How common is colon cancer?
Who is at risk of getting colon cancer?
How do you prevent colon cancer?
Who should get regular screening tests for colon cancer?
What are the symptoms of colon cancer?
Where can I find more information about colon cancer?
What is colon cancer?
Colon cancer occurs when the cells in the colon grow out of control and form a small group of abnormal cells. These cells grow into a lump called a polyp. A polyp is a small, non-cancerous tumor that sometimes turns into cancer.
The colon is the upper 5 to 6 feet of the large intestine. The large intestine is the long, muscular tube that food passes through during digestion.
How common is colon cancer?
Cancer of the colon and rectum is the third most common cancer among men and women in the US. And it's more common among older men and women.
Who is at risk of getting colon cancer?
Anyone can get colon cancer, but it usually strikes people over age 50. And the risk quickly goes up with age. People with a family history of colon cancer have a higher chance of getting the disease.
How do you prevent colon cancer?
Get regular screening tests beginning at age 50
Eat less red meat
Take a multivitamin with folate every day
Be physically active for at least 30 minutes every day
Maintain a healthy weight
Limit the amount of alcohol you drink
Eat more vegetables
Take an aspirin every day (check with your doctor first)
Click here for a list of things that affect colon cancer risk.
Who should get regular screening tests for colon cancer?
All women and men over age 50 should be screened for colon cancer regularly. The need for screening before age 50 depends on a person's family history of the disease.
Getting regular screening tests is the single best way to lower colon cancer risk. Screening tests can prevent colon cancer by finding polyps and then removing them. Polyps are small, non-cancerous tumors in the colon or rectum, which sometimes turn into cancer.
What are the symptoms of colon cancer?
Colon cancer may have no symptoms in the early stages. As the cancer grows, symptoms may include:
A change in bowel habits
A change in the way bowel movements look
Diarrhea or constipation
Blood in bowel movements
Frequent gas pains
These symptoms can also be caused by something less serious, like an ulcer, swelling of the colon, or hemorrhoids. If you have these symptoms for the first time, talk to a doctor.