Colorectal cancer is the second most deadly cancer in the United States with more than 55,000 deaths annually. It is also preventable and highly treatable, often times curable when caught early and localized to the bowel. This is why it is so important to see your physician regularly and have a colonoscopy at age 50.
- Changes in bowel habits or frequency
- Rectal Bleeding
- Blood in stool
- Smaller or thinner stools than normal
To diagnose colon cancer, your physician will perform a colonoscopy. If abnormalities in the colon are discovered, your physician will perform a biopsy of the tissue and send it to the lab for testing.
Treatment for colon cancer will depend on how advanced it is. When caught early, colorectal cancer is treatable. However, it can become very dangerous when detected during later stages. Once diagnosed, you and your physician will decide on a treatment plan based on individual circumstances.
Are You at Risk?
Colorectal cancer is the second most deadly cancer in the United States with more than 55,000 deaths annually. While it is highly preventable and curable when detected early, the disease often produces no symptoms, making it a “silent killer”. More than 90% of those diagnosed with colorectal cancer are over the age of 50.