Colon cancer is particularly common in Western societies and is strongly related to lifestyle. With a lifestyle changes and screening it is largely preventable.

Still about 50,000 new cases of colon or rectal cancer will cause about 52,180 deaths in the U.S. in 2007. It is estimated that about half the people who should be screened are. The American Cancer Society estimates

The good news is that screenings are increasing and as screenings increase, colon and rectal cancer rates are dropping.

One popular myth about this cancer is that it is a men’s cancer. However, over their lifetime, woman have the same risk for colon cancer as men. Beginning at age 50, both men and women should follow one of five screening options, according to the American Cancer Society:

1: A yearly stool blood test or fecal immunochemical test.
2: A flexible sigmoidoscopy every five years.
3: A yearly stool blood test plus flexible sigmoidoscopy every five years.
4: A double contrast barium enema every five years.
5: A colonoscopy every 10 years.

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Colon Cancer
American Cancer Society