Colorectal (Colon) Cancer
Preventable, Treatable, and Beatable!
Colorectal cancer is cancer that starts in the colon or rectum. Most colorectal cancers begin as polyps in the colon or rectum. Some types polyps may turn into cancer over time. Colorectal cancer screening tests can find polyps so they can be removed before turning into cancer. Screening also helps find colorectal cancer at an early stage, when treatment often leads to a cure. Up to 90 percent of people who develop colorectal cancer will survive if they receive a timely diagnosis and are treated before the cancer extends beyond the wall of the intestine.
In California, colorectal cancer claims over 5,000 lives each year and is the third most common cause of death by cancer for both men and women. Since symptoms may not appear until the advanced stages of the disease, it is recommended that everyone begin regular CRC screenings at age 50. People with a family history of CRC and others in high-risk groups may need to begin screenings before their 50th birthday.