Colorectal cancer, like many other cancers, is extremely important to catch early, before it spreads. Watch for common warning signs such as changes in bowel habits, bleeding from the rectum, and blood in the stool that appears bright red or black. Starting at age 40, men and women should get a yearly fecal occult blood test (FOBT) or Fecal immunochemical test (FIT). Men and women should get a colonoscopy every 5-10 years starting at age 50. If you have a family history of colorectal cancer, talk to your doctor about getting screened more frequently. For a complete list of recommended cancer screenings, click here.
If you are diagnosed with colorectal cancer, the four most common types of treatment options are surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and targeted therapies (for a detailed listing of your personal treatment options, click here to visit our Free Online Treatment Decision Tools).
