The Disease
"NOT COUNTING SKIN CANCERS, COLORECTAL CANCER IS THE THIRD MOST COMMON CANCER FOUND IN MEN AND WOMEN IN AMERICA." - The American Cancer Society
What is colon cancer?
The colon is a portion of the body’s digestive system that processes food to provide the body with energy and rid the body of waste. Colon cancer occurs when malignant cells grow in the tissues of the colon.
**From www.coloncancerfoundation.org
The colon is composed of four parts: the ascending colon, the transverse colon, the descending colon, and the sigmoid colon. Cancer can begin in the tissue of the walls of any of these sections or the rectum. The development of this cancer typically occurs slowly over several years. Most colon cancers begin as a polyp. These polyps are typically much easier to remove than cancerous tissue, therefore early detection and screening are the key to successful treatment and prevention of colon cancer.
Risk Factors
The American Cancer Society defines several risk factors that increase your chance of developing colon cancer:
- Age 50 or older: more than 90% of people who are diagnosed with colon cancer are 50 or above.
- A family history of colorectal cancer
- History of polyps in the colon, ulcerative colitis, or Crohn’s disease
- Consuming a diet high in animal fat
- Physical inactivity
- Obesity
- Smoking