Colon Cancer Statistics

Colon cancer statistics reveal that it is a dangerous disease which can affect anybody. Colon cancer is one of the many types of cancers that affect the human body. As the name implies, this type of cancer primarily affects the colon. When it has become metastasized or spread, that is when colon cancer affects organs and tissues other than the colon.

What are the colon cancer statistics?

To date, colon cancer is the third cancer that commonly affects people worldwide. As a matter of fact, it is the second most common causes of death in the Western part of the world. Colorectal cancer is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers in the U.S. In 2005, 72,007 men and 69,398 women were diagnosed with colorectal cancer. 26,781 men and 26,224 women died from colorectal cancer. Studies indicate that the risk of getting colorectal cancer increases with age and is greater in men than in women. About 26,700 and 26,200 died from colorectal cancer. It is a disease that is very common in today's world, but the good news is that the survival rate has been going up for the last 20 years. It also depends on which stage the cancer is caught. The earlier the stage, the better your chances of survival.

Colon cancer statistics reveal that people should be aware of a number of facts and factors.

When it comes to cancer, there are many facts that people should know since this illness strikes just about anyone. Colon cancer facts include a lot of basic things. No matter how basic they may be, these should not be ignored or taken for granted since they could help save the life of anyone who may be having colon cancer.

What are the Risk Factors?

Colon cancer is said to have high possibility rates of developing in people who have risk factors such as the following:

* Age- for some reason, people who are aged 50 and above are considered as high risk groups to developing colon cancer. This is why an annual digital rectal exam is recommended to those who are in the high-risk age group.

* Polyps- due to the way cancer cells develop, people who have polyps in the colon are high risk for developing colon cancer. The cells in the polyps have a high possibility of turning into abnormal cells thereby becoming cancer cells.

* Diet- many have linked colon cancer to diets high in red meat and low in foods that have anti-cancer properties such as fruits and green leafy vegetables.

What are the Signs and Symptoms?

Colon cancer statistics divulge a pattern of signs and symptoms. If you think you are high risk for having this kind of cancer, or think that you may be having it now, here are five things that you should know.

* Change in bowel movement- this is a manifestation wherein you will either have constipation or diarrhea. To know if your bowel movement changed or not, you must first know your normal bowel movement. If normally you defecate twice a day and then suddenly only defecates 3 times per week, this is a big change in your bowel movement. The same is also true if you normally defecate thrice a week and suddenly pass stool twice a day.

* Blood in the stool- most of the time, this is what concerns people. The blood in the stool may appear as fresh blood. This indicates that bleeding is happening in the lower parts of the colon such as the sigmoid or even rectum. Black and tarry stool is often indicative bleeding in the upper parts of the colon. Since the blood ahs turned black, it means that the stool has had it for quite a while and that the blood is “old”.

* Abdominal discomfort- this is a sign and symptom that is related to large intestinal obstruction. Usually, a tumor that has grown large enough to block the intestines, the passage of stool becomes less and the abdominal area usually becomes painful. According to colon cancer statistics, pain is one of the main reasons why colon cancer is detected and diagnosed. Because of the pain, people go to the doctor to have a check up on what’s causing it.

* Abdominal bloating- this is one of the effects of the tumor growing large enough to cause abdominal obstruction. Because the digested food is having a hard time passing down to the colon, they will stay just above the obstruction and accumulate there. This will also lead to a feeling of fullness further leading to decreased appetite. Aside from the abdominal bloating, a large tumor can also be palpated by some.

* Change in stool appearance- just like the change in bowel movements, you have to consider how your stool normally looks before concluding that there is a change in stool appearance. Usually, the stool of people who have colon cancer will pass out stool that is flat and ribbon like in appearance. Also, some will have reddish or black stools when before, they used to have brown stool.

Think you have these symptoms? Get a doctor’s appointment and have yourselves checked right away. Remember that in cancer, the earlier the detection, the better the prognosis.

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