Understanding the symptoms of colorectal cancer
Colorectal cancer, or cancers of the colon or rectum, is the third most common cancer diagnosed in both men and women and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States among men and women combined, according to the American Cancer Society. The average person has about a 1 in 19 risk of developing the disease over his lifetime. Detected early, the disease can be curable. The best defense is regular screenings. Regular colonoscopies are recommended beginning at age 50, or sooner for those with a family history or exhibiting symptoms.