During the same year, about 56,600 Americans will lose their lives to this disease. This is a particular tragedy because colorectal cancer is preventable and, when caught at an early stage, among the most treatable cancers. Americans have a 6 percent, or 1 in 16, chance of developing colorectal cancer in their lifetime. Many women consider colorectal cancer to be a man's disease, but this disorder strikes men and women at equal rates. Studies have proven that many cases of colorectal cancer can be prevented by avoiding smoking, exercising regularly, and eating a healthy, well-balanced diet.
Colorectal cancer has the distinction of being the only completely preventable cancer.
If pre-cancerous polyps are detected in the colon and rectum, they can be removed, preventing cancer from ever developing. In addition, a genetic test is now available for familial colorectal cancer. The American Cancer Society and other experts recommend that all people over 50 have annual colorectal cancer screening exams. Unfortunately, fewer than 20 percent of Americans engage in regular colorectal cancer screening. Nevertheless, an entire Vietnam Wall of Americans dies of colorectal cancer each year because only 37 percent of colorectal cancer cases are detected at this early, highly treatable stage.