Why Screen for Colon Cancer
The colon and rectum constitute the final stages of the digestive system. They apply final processing to food before it is eliminated from the body. They are also the sites of one of the deadliest forms of cancer in the industrialized world-colorectal cancer. One of the most common forms of cancer in the developed world, with over 600,000 deaths worldwide, colorectal cancer is a truly deadly disease. Generally, colorectal cancer develops from naturally occurring growths called polyps. While it is uncertain why these normally benign growths became malicious, many doctors and scientist theorize it has something to do with the lifestyles of citizens of modernized countries. This is due to the link between certain behaviors and the rates of cancer. This is, in a sense, good news, because it means as we learn more about how to lead healthier lives we may be able to reduce the number of colorectal cancer victims. Despite the myriad number of screening methods available to detect the presence
