Advances in the detection and treatment of this cancer have made it very treatable if caught early. Anyone is at risk for colorectal cancer. People with a family history of the disease or who have polyps in the colon or rectum or inflammatory bowel disease are at somewhat greater risk than the general population. Diets that are high in fat and low in fiber place people at higher risk for colorectal cancer. These polyps can be detected and removed before they become cancerous.
Colorectal cancer is a disease that can be prevented.
Eating food that is low in fat and high in fiber appears to lower the risk of colorectal cancer. People at moderate or high risk for colorectal cancer should talk with their doctor about a different screening schedule. Most of these will be caught early and cured, although a third of these cases will still result in the patient's death. In certain groups of women, including women past the child-bearing years who do not regularly see a gynecologist, cervical cancer is more commonly found at an advanced stage when cure is less likely. Cervical cancer can affect any woman who is, or has been, sexually active.