Yet public awareness of this deadly form of cancer is much lower than other types of the disease, such as breast or prostate cancer. There are specialized tests and preventive measures that could save your life. Last year, about 160,000 Americans were diagnosed with and 60,000 people died from the disease. Polyps are precursors of cancer in the rectum and colon. Unfortunately, a colon cancer may have spread into surrounding tissue by the time symptoms appear.
Polyps are frequently asymptomatic and are only found on examination.
Screening involves hemoccult blood testing, digital exam and flexible sigmoidoscopy. For the average risk patient, screening should begin at age 50, and be repeated every five years. Hemoccult testing, however, should be done annually. Polyps that are found should be removed by colonoscopy exam. If the tumor has spread into the lymph nodes, liver or lungs, then chemotherapy treatment is utilized for control.