• Colon and Rectal Cancers - Symptoms
• Highlights
• Introduction
• Causes
• Symptoms
• Diagnosis and Screening
• Treatment

Risk Factors and Prevention

Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in the U.S., with Americans facing a lifetime chance of 5 - 6% for this cancer. Each year, about 143,000 Americans are diagnosed with colorectal cancer, and about 50,000 people die from the disease. About 72% of cancers occur in the colon and 28% in the rectum.

Rates of colorectal cancer have been decreasing in the United States. This is due in part to more people getting regular screenings for colorectal cancer, and...