Colon cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States. The American Cancer Society estimates that 950 people will die in Arizona this year from illnesses related to colon cancer. Colon cancer is a very common cancer second only to lung cancer. The strongest risk factor for colon cancer is age. Colon cancer is preventable and curable. It is preventable by removing the precancerous colon polyps, one of the colon cancer early symptoms.

Colon cancer is cancer that develops in the colon or the rectum. The colon and rectum are parts of the digestive system, which is also called the gastrointestinal, or GI, system. Colon cancer is the second most common cause of cancer-related death in Canada. It is estimated that one of 16 Canadian men and one of 18 Canadian women will develop colon cancer in their lifetimes, just behind breast cancer for women and prostate cancer in men. Colon cancer is preventable. The most important step towards preventing colon cancer is getting a screening test as colon cancer symptoms are not always obvious.

Colon cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer in the United States for both men and women. Also referred to as colorectal cancer, colon cancer occurs in the large intestine (colon) or the rectum (end of the colon). Colon cancer is the second most common cause of death from cancer in the United States - almost 60,000 people die from it each year. Men and women over age 50 are more likely to develop colon cancer, and a personal or family history of colorectal cancer or precancerous polyps increases a person’s risk. Colon cancer is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer among Americans, but it has an excellent cure rate.

Colon cancer is, in almost all cases, a treatable disease if caught early. Removal of pre-cancerous polyps by colonoscopy essentially prevents colon cancer. Colon cancer is often fatal if the cancer cells have spread unchecked through the lymphatic system or bloodstream to adjacent and/or distant tissues. Colorectal cancer has a strong tendency to metastasize to the liver, which represents the leading cause of death for people with the disease. Colon cancer is divided up into stages, “a” through “d,” and “a” is an earlier stage. But if you can find it at an early stage, more than 95 percent of people are cured.

Colon cancer is cancer in parts of the body including the colon, rectum, appendix and anus. It is also called “colorectal” cancer. Colon cancer is caused by the abnormal growth of cells in the lining of the bowel. Usually small lumps called polyps begin to form. Colon cancer is more likely to occur as people get older. This disease is more common in people over the age of 50 (45 for African Americans).

Screening

Screenings can detect cancers of the breast, colon, rectum, cervix, prostate, oral cavity and skin at early stages. A heightened awareness of breast or skin changes may also result in tumors detected at earlier stages. Screening tests are used to look for disease in people who do not have any symptoms. In many cases, these tests can find colorectal cancers at an early stage and greatly improve the chances of successful treatment. Screening, particularly with colonoscopy, in increased- and high-risk populations can save lives. The most important risk factors are a family history of colorectal cancer and personal history of colorectal cancer, polyps, or chronic inflammatory bowel disease.

Colorectal Cancer And African Americans

Colorectal cancer was the first cancer type to be shown to respond to antiangiogenic therapy as demonstrated by the clinical trials performed by Herb Hurwirtz and colleagues at Duke University. Based on the evidence for improved median survival rates, the FDA approved Avastin for use in combination therapy in advanced colorectal cancer. Colorectal cancer is a problem for all races, but it’s particularly crucial that information about how to prevent colorectal cancer gets through to African-Americans, who are more likely to get the disease than whites or any other group. And when African-Americans get colon cancer, they’re more likely to die from it. Colorectal cancer, often referred to as colon cancer, is the second leading cancer killer among men and women in the United States. It is largely preventable with regular screening, and is curable with early detection.

Colorectal cancer screening works! The number of deaths from colorectal cancer has been declining for the past 15 years, likely due in part to increased screening, which allows for earlier detection of cancer and precancerous polyps and earlier treatment. Colorectal adenocarcinoma can be divided in three grades: Grade I (low grade or well-differentiated), grade II (average grade or moderately differentiated) and grade III (poorly differentiated). The following histopathologic features have been shown to be prognostic indicators in multivariate analysis: microacinar versus macroacinar growth pattern, endocrine cells detected by chromogranin immunohistochemistry, Crohn’s-like reaction and tumor budding.

Colon Cancer Research

Research shows that the composition of the body’s cells actually changes with changes in dietary fat. Polyunsaturated oils create unstable cells that are more vulnerable to the kind of damage that can begin the cancer process. Researchers at the University of Arizona found that people who have been treated for colon or rectal cancer have less risk of recurrence when their diets are rich in fiber. They found benefits from daily supplements of 13.5 grams of wheat bran fiber (the amount in a half-cup of bran cereal), but they speculate that other forms of fiber might have the same effect. Researchers estimate that one in four people has developed adenomatous polyps by the age of 50, though most of these people will never develop colon cancer.

Researchers now have confirmation that colon cancer arises from polyps over a period of five to ten years. Removal of all polyps, therefore, can potentially prevent some colon cancers.