[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2014\/03\/colorectal-cancer-infographic\/#Article","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2014\/03\/colorectal-cancer-infographic\/","headline":"Know the Facts About Colorectal Cancer","name":"Know the Facts About Colorectal Cancer","description":"What Is Colorectal Cancer? Colorectal cancer develops in the colon or rectum. The colon and rectum make up your large intestine, which is part of your lower digestive system. These two cancers are grouped together because they have many common features. Each year in the United States, about 135,430 people are diagnosed with colorectal cancer. […]","datePublished":"2014-03-17","dateModified":"2022-06-09","author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/hillman.upmc.com\/","name":"UPMC Hillman Cancer Center","url":"https:\/\/hillman.upmc.com\/","sameAs":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/upmc-hillman-cancer-center\/","parentOrganization":"UPMC"},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"UPMC HealthBeat","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/colorectal-cancer-infographic.jpg","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/colorectal-cancer-infographic.jpg","height":324,"width":754},"url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2014\/03\/colorectal-cancer-infographic\/","about":["Cancer Care"],"wordCount":297,"keywords":["cancer","cancer screening","colon","colonoscopy","colorectal cancer","infographic","rectum"],"articleBody":"What Is Colorectal Cancer?Colorectal cancer develops in the colon or rectum. The colon and rectum make up your large intestine, which is part of your lower digestive system. These two cancers are grouped together because they have many common features.Each year in the United States, about 135,430 people are diagnosed with colorectal cancer. Women and men are both at risk for colorectal cancer, but women are slightly less affected. Colorectal cancer occurs in 1 of every 23 women and 1 of every 20 men.Colorectal cancer is expected to cause about 50,040 deaths in the United States in 2017. However, there are more than 100 million colorectal cancer survivors living in the US.Risk Factors for Colorectal CancerThere are many risk factors for colorectal cancer. The most common risk factors includeAgeFamily history and personal history of cancerHistory of polyps in the colonDietAlcoholSmokingObesitySedentary lifestyleYou are at a higher risk for colorectal cancer if you have Crohn\u2019s Disease or have a history of ulcerative colitis (ulcers in the large intestine). Certain hereditary conditions such as familial adenomatous polyposis and hereditary non-polyposis colon cancer, also known as HNPCC or Lynch Syndrome, have a higher risk of developing colorectal cancer.Screenings for Colorectal CancerScreening is crucial to early detection of colorectal cancer. The earlier the diagnosis, the better the treatment outcome.More than 90 percent of colorectal cancers can be treated when diagnosed in early stages. Average-risk individuals with no family or personal history of cancer should begin screenings at the age of 45.Available screening tests include:Flexible sigmoidoscopyColonoscopy. This is the only procedure that can detect and remove polyps before they develop into cancerCT Colonography (virtual colonoscopy) Editor's Note: This article was originally published on March 17, 2014, and was last reviewed on June 9, 2022."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"2014","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2014\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"03","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2014\/\/03\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Know the Facts About Colorectal Cancer","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2014\/03\/colorectal-cancer-infographic\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]