About Colorectal Cancer

  • Colorectal cancer is a leading cause of cancer death in the U.S.
  • Colorectal cancer doesn’t always have symptoms and most colorectal cancers occur in people without a family history.
  • If you are 45 or older, it’s time to start regular screening for colorectal cancer.
  • Routine screening for colorectal cancer is cancer prevention. Screening can find precancerous growths before they turn into cancer.
  • There are several screening test options, including some that can be done at home. Talk to your doctor about which screening test is right for you.
  • Your risk of getting colorectal cancer increases as you get older. Other risk factors include having—
    • Inflammatory bowel disease such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis.
    • A personal or family history of colorectal cancer or colorectal polyps.
    • A genetic syndrome such as familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) or hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (Lynch syndrome).