Excluding skin cancers, colorectal cancer is the fourth most common cancer diagnosed in both men and women in the U.S., according to the American Cancer Society.
“The good news is that with early detection — through a colonoscopy — the survival rate dramatically increases,” said Dr. Tyler Cowart, M.D. in a press release.
A colonoscopy is a procedure that allows a doctor to see inside the colon and rectum. The American Cancer Society recommends that screening for colon cancer should begin at age 45 for both men and women who are of average risk for developing colorectal cancer.
“More than 90 percent of people diagnosed with colon cancer are ages 50 and older,” stated Cowart.
Industry guidelines suggest that a repeat screening be conducted every 10 years for adults with normal risk.
If anything abnormal is observed, such as a polyp (growth), it is painlessly removed at that time and later tested in a laboratory for signs of cancer.
“Since most colorectal cancer begins as a polyp, removing polyps early is an effective prevention method. Your doctor can also take samples from abnormal — looking tissues (a biopsy) so that suspicious areas can be examined,” said Cowart.
According to the National Cancer Institute, if colon cancer is detected before it spreads, the five-year survival rate is about 90%, but if not caught before the cancer spreads to other organs, the survival rate dips to about 10%.
Those at higher risk of developing colorectal cancer may need to be tested earlier than age 45 and more frequently, as determined by your doctor.
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