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Article: Colon screening basics: there are several ways to check for colon trouble, but the standard colonoscopy remains the best solution for most.
- Article from:
- Healthy Years
- Article date:
- June 1, 2006
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2006 Belvoir Media Group, LLC. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Colorectal cancer (CRC) is second-most deadly cancer in America, behind lung cancer. Both men and women are susceptible, and the vast majority of cases are diagnosed in people over 50. About a third of the people diagnosed with it will die from it.
In its early stages, CRC may not cause any symptoms. Polyps that develop in the rectum and colon may grow slowly, and may or may not become cancerous. If cancer does develop and goes undetected and untreated, however, the lack of symptoms in the early stages is dangerous. By the time symptoms appear--bleeding, pain, anemia, and weight loss, for example--the cancer may have advanced to a stage where treatment is ...