In the United States, one person is diagnosed with colorectal cancer every 4 minutes and someone dies every 9 minutes of this disease.

Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in this country. Approximately 147,000 people will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer this year, and almost 57,000 will die from the disease.

Colorectal cancer is a highly preventable and treatable cancer. Tens of thousands of lives could be saved every year through proper screening. Almost all colorectal cancers begin as polyps in the colon that can be removed during a colonoscopy. When polyps are removed, colorectal cancer can be stopped before it even starts.

When caught early, colorectal cancer has about a 90% survival rate - but when caught in later stages, there is only about a 9% survival rate. Currently, only about 37% of colorectal cancers are caught at the earliest stage, when it is most treatable.

A personal or family history of colorectal cancer, certain other cancers, colon polyps, or other bowel diseases increase your risk of developing colorectal cancer. Anyone can help prevent colorectal cancer by exercising regularly, eating a low-fat high-fiber diet (whole grains, fruits & veggies), maintaining a healthy weight, and not smoking.

For specific information about colorectal cancer statistics in your state, please visit www.statecancerprofiles.cancer.gov.

 

 

The most common symptom of colorectal cancer is no symptom at all - that is why it is critical that everyone get screened even if they don't think anything is wrong. If you are having symptoms, you must get tested!