According to the National Cancer Institute of Canada (NCIC), in 2013 colorectal cancer was the third most common form of cancer and the second most common cause of cancer related death among Canadian men and women.
Colorectal cancer is a highly treatable ailment if it is detected early enough. Even better yet, it is almost 90% preventable if timely and thorough testing and screening measures are performed. Unfortunately, even today with screening measure readily available nearly 50% of those diagnosed with colorectal cancer find out too late.
The majority of colorectal cancer cases begin as benign growths within the lining of the colon. These benign growths are known as adenomatous polyps. Over time these polyps will grow both in number and size, increasing the likelihood that the abnormal cells within the polyp will become cancerous. Polyps if removed in a timely fashion can and will prevent colorectal cancer from developing.
Polyps are normally removed during colonoscopy procedures when they are discovered. With this said it is important to identify and remove any form of polyps as soon as possible.
Here are some simple statistics pertaining to colorectal cancer:
- On average, 423 Canadians are diagnosed with Colorectal cancer each week
- On average, 17 Canadians die of colorectal cancer every week
- One in every fourteen men is expected to develop colorectal cancer during their lifetime (one in 27 of them will die from it)
- One in every fifteen women is expected to develop colorectal cancer during their lifetime (one in 31 will die from it)
- Anyone who is 50 years of age or greater should be screened for colorectal cancer regardless of family history.