Colorectal cancer is cancer that occurs in the colon or rectum. Sometimes it is called colon cancer. The rectum is the passageway that connects the colon to the anus.

Colorectal cancer is the second leading cancer killer in the United States, but it doesn’t have to be. If everyone aged 45 years or older had regular screening tests, at least 60% of deaths from this cancer could be avoided. So if you are 45 or older, start getting screened now.

> Both men and women can get it.

> It is most often found in people 45 and older.

> The risk increases with age.

Your risk for colorectal cancer may be higher than average if:

> You or a close relative have had colorectal polyps or colorectal cancer.

> You have inflammatory bowel disease.

> You have a genetic syndrome such as familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) or hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer.

People at high risk for colorectal cancer may need earlier or more frequent tests than other people. Talk to your doctor about when to begin screening and how often you should be tested.

If you’re 45 or older, getting a colorectal cancer screening test could save your life. Here’s how:

> Colorectal cancer usually starts from polyps in the colon or rectum. A polym is a growth that shouldn’t be there.

> Over time, some polyps can turn into cancer.

> Screening tests can find polyps, so they can be removed before they turn into cancer.

> Screening tests also can find colorectal cancer early. When it is found early, the chance of being cured is good.

Precancerous polyps and early-stage colorectal cancer don’t always cause symptoms especially at first. This means that someone could have polyps or colorectal cancer and not know it. That is why having a screening test is so important.