What You Need to Know
When colorectal cancer occurs, abnormal cells in the colon or rectum divide uncontrollably, eventually forming a malignant tumor. Most colorectal cancers begin as a polyp, a growth in the tissue that lines the inner surface of the colon or rectum. A polyp can be flat or raised. Polyps are common in people over age 50 and most aren’t cancer. A center type of polyp, an adenoma, may have a higher risk of developing into cancer.
Colorectal cancer is the third most common type of non-skin cancer in both men and women. (For men, prostate cancer and lung cancer are higher; for women, it’s breast cancer and lung cancer.) Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in the U.S. after lung cancer.
The good news: The rates of new colorectal cancer cases and deaths among adults age 50 and over are decreasing in the U.S. due to increased screening and a reduction in risk factors, such as smoking. The major risk factor remain family history and ask about when to schedule a colorectal cancer screening.
Source: National Cancer institute
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