It's also one of the only cancers that can be almost completely prevented. The University of Virginia Health System believes the best defense is offense. And with colon cancer, that offense can be as simple as routine screening exams.
Cancer can strike the colon and the rectum.
Digested food passes from the colon into the rectum, which is the last six to eight inches of the large intestine. Almost all cases of colon cancer start with small growths called polyps on the inside lining of the colon. There are relatively few warning signs. There are several screening exams for colon cancer. Examines a small amount of stool for any hidden blood.