Your lifetime risk of developing colorectal cancer is about 1 in 20. Excluding skin cancers, colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in the United States.

In 2011, there will be an estimated 101,340 new cases of colon cancer, 39,870 new cases of rectal cancer, and 49,380 deaths from colorectal cancer, according to the American Cancer Society.

Colorectal cancer is the nation’s second-leading cause of cancer deaths. But the good news is that the death rate from this disease has been steadily decreasing for more than 20 years.

Part of the reason is that there are fewer cases. But the bigger story is that better screening has led to the identification and removal of polyps before they turn cancerous, and the identification of early cancer that is easier to treat and cure.

A new report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) attributes the decreased death rate to increased screening of people ages 50-75, the age group most likely to develop colorectal cancer. During the past 10 years, the screening rate among older adults has increased from half to two-thirds.

The result?  The number of colorectal cancer cases dropped from 52.3 cases per 100,000 people in 2003 to 45.4 per 100,000 in 2007. That represents 66,000 fewer cancers in 2007.

During the same time period, the death rate from colorectal cancer fell from 19 per 100,000 to 16.7 per 100,000. That represents 32,000 fewer deaths in 2007.

The bad news is that 22 million older adults are still not being screened, according to the CDC. Part of the reason is that many people object to screening preparations, which often involve taking a laxative to flush all fecal matter from the colon the night before the test

If all older adults got regular screenings, most of the 53,000 colorectal cancer deaths in 2007 could have been prevented, according to the CDC.
Colorectal cancer is more common in people over 50, and the risk increases with age. You are also more likely to get it if you have:

• Polyps - growths inside the colon and rectum that may become cancerous.
• A diet that is high in fat.
• A family history or personal history of colorectal cancer.
• Ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease.

Sometimes, symptoms of colorectal cancer may include blood in the stool, narrower stools, a change in bowel habits and general stomach discomfort. Often, however, there are no early symptoms, so screening is important.
Experts recommend that screening for everyone who is age 50 or older. Treatments for colorectal cancer include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation or a combination.
Most agencies recommend three types of routine screening for colorectal cancer:

• Fecal occult blood test.  A yearly home test for blood that is hidden in the stool.
• Flexible sigmoidoscopy. A procedure performed every five years to look inside the rectum and sigmoid (lower) colon for polyps, abnormal areas, or cancer.
• Colonoscopy. A procedure performed every 10 years to look inside the rectum and entire colon for polyps, abnormal areas, or cancer.

You may need more frequent screenings if a first test shows certain abnormalities.

Other common types of screening include:

• Barium enema. A series of x-rays of the lower gastrointestinal tract.
• Digital rectal exam. The doctor or nurse inserts a lubricated, gloved finger into the lower part of the rectum to feel for lumps or anything else that seems unusual.

Newer types of screenings being studied in clinical trials include:

• Virtual colonoscopy. A procedure that uses a series of x-rays called computed tomography to make a series of pictures of the colon.
• DNA stool test.  A test which checks DNA in stool cells for genetic changes that may be a sign of colorectal cancer.

Tell Us What You Think Of This Story.   Share your comments below.

SCHEDULE A SCREENING