Colon Cancer is Preventable Through Screening.

Colon cancer can be easily prevented; yet it remains the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States and will claim nearly 50,000 American lives this year. Many of those lives could be saved if people better understood the risks for the disease and would be screened regularly. Colon cancer screening tests identify suspicious or pre-cancerous polyps, which can be removed before they develop into a serious health problem.

"If we started effectively screening the people age 50 and over in this country tomorrow, we would cut deaths from this disease substantially and reasonably quickly," said Dr. Len Lichtenfeld, Deputy Chief Medical Officer, American Cancer Society.

Preventing colon cancer altogether through testing is the ideal outcome, but early detection of the disease also yields important health benefits. Because, when detected and treated early, the five-year survival rate is over 90%. However, only 37% of colon cancers are detected in the earliest stages. Of those whose cancers are found at later stages, the five-year survival rate is less than 10%.

Both men and women are at risk for colon cancer. Personal risk varies, so a doctor can help you make informed decisions about when to begin testing and the most appropriate testing method for you. Factors associated with increased risk for colon cancer include:

1. Age: most diagnosed are 50 or older
2. Race: African Americans are at greater risk
3. Personal or family history of colon cancer
4. Personal or family history of intestinal polyps
5. Personal history of inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative or Crohn's colitis)
6. Smoking or use of other tobacco products
7. Physical inactivity