Although colon cancer is a more familiar term, doctors commonly refer to cancer that arises in the large intestine as colorectal cancer, a term that includes cancers of both the colon and the rectum. The American Cancer Society ranks colorectal cancer as the third most common cause of cancer overall in the United States and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths among men and women. Yet when diagnosed and treated in the early stages, it is among the most curable of all cancers. The five-year survival rate for people whose colon or rectal cancer is discovered and treated in the early stages is above 90%. In some cases, regular screening reveals precancerous growths that can be removed, thereby preventing cancer from developing in the first place. This White Paper discusses the way colorectal cancer develops, how it can be detected early, and how you can reduce your risks. It will also describe new developments in screening, diagnosis, and research, treatment options, and ways in which people who have already been treated for colon cancer can lower their risk of having a recurrence.
