Colon cancer is the second leading cause of death in men and women, and the third most commonly diagnosed cancer in the United States. Approximately 90% of colon cancer cases occur in people over 50 years old. Anyone with a first-degree relative who has colon cancer is at risk of developing the disease by nearly two to three times more than the average person with no history of cancer or disease. To this day there is more than one million colon cancer survivors in the United States—Dottie Mattern is one of the many fortunate survivors.
With the risks of colon cancer in mind, it is important to spread awareness and to emphasize regular screening. Having regular colonoscopies can help detect polyps, a growth from a mucous membrane commonly found in organs such as the rectum, the uterus, and the nose that could potentially develop into colon cancer. Treatment can take place once colon cancer is detected, and this treatment is most effective during the early stages of cancer. The later that the cancer is detected, the less effective treatment becomes. In fact, the five-year survival rate for colon cancer found at the local stage is 90%, while the survival rate for the regional stage is 70%, and the distant stage is 12%. It is clear to see from research that it is possible to aid in the prevention of colon cancer with regular screenings.
To learn more about colon cancer, including the risks, survival rates, and treatments, please visit the Colon Cancer Alliance website.
The information collected comes directly from the research compiled by Colon Cancer Alliance. All information can be found at its website.