Colorectal cancer may include cancers of the colon or cancers of the rectum. It is the third most common cancer for both men and women. Colorectal cancers usually start as a non-cancerous polyp, or growth. When polyps are found, they can usually be removed before cancer is developed.
More than 140,000 people are diagnosed with colorectal cancer in the U.S each year. Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the country. Despite the statistics, colorectal cancer has a high cure rate if it is caught early.
Early-stage colorectal cancer usually does not have any symptoms, so regular testing is crucial to catching polyps that can grow in the lining of the colon, which may turn into cancer.
What is a colonoscopy?
A colonoscopy is how specialists can detect possible polyps or cancer growth in the colon and rectal area. During a colonoscopy a small flexible tube with a camera at the tip is inserted into the anus. It passes through the rectum and colon to detect abnormalities. During this procedure, your physician may biopsy or remove suspicious-looking areas. Patients are sedated for this procedure.