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--- Document: Colorectal Cancer: Catch it Early & Reduce Your Risk Document ---
Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in men and women in the US. Cancer screening
tests look for cancer in people who don’t have any signs or symptoms. When colorectal cancer is
found early during screening, it’s usually smaller and might be easier to treat.
Certain communities are at higher risk.
•
American Indian and Alaska Native people have the
highest rates of colorectal cancer in the US.
•
Black individuals have the second-highest rates of
colorectal cancer and are most likely to be
diagnosed later, when the cancer has spread to
other parts of the body.
•
Colorectal cancer rates are highest in West Virginia,
Kentucky, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Louisiana.
Colorectal cancer:
Catch it early and reduce your risk.
cancer.org/colon | 1.800.227.2345
While overall rates of colorectal cancer have gone down over
the past 10 years, rates in people younger than age 50 have
gone up by about 2% each year.
Who gets colorectal cancer?
Anyone can get colorectal cancer, but some people have a higher risk than others.
US Colorectal
Cancer Stats
1 in 5
colorectal cancer cases
are now in people
under age 55.
1 in 3
people who get colorectal cancer
have a family history. They’re
also more likely to get colorectal
cancer at a earlier age.
1 in 5
people ages 45 through
49 are up-to-date on
colorectal screening, lower
than any other age group.
Certain health conditions increase risk.
•
People with a personal or family history of
colorectal cancer or polyps
•
People with inflammatory bowel disease
(ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s)
•
People with inherited gene changes,
such as Lynch syndrome or familial
adenomatous polyposis (FAP)
•
People with type 2 diabetes
Stool-based test options
•
Guaiac-based fecal occult blood test (gFOBT)
every year or
•
Fecal immunochemical Test (FIT) every year or
•
Multi-targeted stool DNA test (MT-sDNA) every
3 years
Visual exam test options
•
Colonoscopy every 10 years or
•
CT colonography (virtual colonoscopy) every 5
years or
•
Flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 years
About stool-based tests
•
Can be done at home
•
Low cost
•
No bowel prep or sedation
•
Need to be done more often than visual tests
•
Will need a colonoscopy if test is abnormal
•
Can miss many polyps and some cancers
About visual-exam tests
•
Done in doctor’s office or health facility
•
Bowel prep needed
•
Only a colonoscopy can remove and test
polyps
•
Any test other than a colonoscopy will require a
colonoscopy if the test is abnormal.
Everyone should start regular screening for colorectal
cancer at age 45.*
Can colorectal cancer
be prevented?
©2025, American Cancer Society, Inc.
No. 012793 Rev. 2/25
*If you’re at high risk of colorectal cancer based on family history or other factors, you may need to start
screening before age 45, be screened more often, or get specific tests.
There are some differences between these tests to consider, but the most important thing is to get screened,
no matter which test you choose.
More than half of all colorectal cancers
are linked to physical inactivity, poor
nutrition, excess body weight, tobacco,
and alcohol.
•
Eat more vegetables, fruits, and whole grains.
•
Limit or avoid red and processed meats, sugary
drinks, and refined grains.
•
Be as physically active as you can.
cancer.org/colon | 1.800.227.2345
•
Get to a healthy weight range.
•
Don’t use tobacco, and avoid secondhand smoke.
•
Limit or avoid alcohol.
Visual-
exam tests
Stool-based
tests