There is a pervasive misconception among the public and even among many health providers that this disease affects mainly men. Women need to be as concerned about screening for colorectal cancer as they rightfully are about screening for cervical and breast cancer. Cervical cancer is mainly a concern among younger women.
Colorectal cancer differs from other major cancers in another important way.
So screening for and resecting benign colon polyps is a very powerful way to prevent colorectal cancer. Unfortunately, this is not something that is well known by either the public or many health providers. Dr. Sidney Winawer, New York, calls it a best kept secret that we can prevent colorectal cancer by finding and removing polyps.