Despite the heightened awareness of colorectal cancer, many people are reluctant or even embarrassed to talk about colorectal cancer, even though the disease is the second leading cancer killer among both men and women. While symptoms may not appear until the cancer has advanced, this hidden disease can be successfully treated if detected early.

The American Cancer Society encourages men and women, particularly those aged 50 or older, to ask their doctor about colorectal cancer. Some of the most commonly asked questions follow:

Colorectal cancer begins in the colon or rectum. The colon is a muscular tube approximately five feet long that connects the small intestine to the rectum. Cancer can begin in any part of the colon, but before cancer develops, changes usually occur in the organ?s lining. One change is a tissue growth called a polyp. Colorectal cancer most often starts as a benign polyp or growth that becomes malignant over time. Once detected, a polyp may be removed, preventing it from becoming cancerous later.

While the exact cause of colorectal cancer is not known, colorectal cancer occurs more often among:

• Men and women over 50 (about 90 percent of colon cancer patients are over the age of 50)
• Those with a strong family history of colon or rectal cancer or polyps (mother, father, siblings)
• People with a personal history of colon or rectal cancer or chronic inflammatory bowel disease
• Physically inactive people
• Those who eat high-fat, low-fiber diets without enough fruit or vegetables

What are the symptoms?

Colorectal cancer can be treated successfully if caught early, however, symptoms may not appear until the disease has advanced. That is why open communication with your doctor and screening is so important, even if you do not have symptoms.

If you have:

• A change in bowel habits that lasts for more than a few days
• Bleeding from the rectum
• Blood in the stool
• Cramping or gnawing stomach pains
• Fatigue

See your doctor immediately. While these symptoms may not necessarily point to colon cancer, it is better to be safe and seek consultation right away.

Beginning at age 50, both men and women should follow one of the three screening options below:

• Yearly fecal occult blood test plus flexible sigmoidoscopy every five years*; or
• Colonoscopy every 10 years*; or
• Double contrast barium enema every 5-10 years*.

People should begin colorectal cancer screening earlier and/or undergo screening more often if they have any of the following colorectal cancer risk factors:

• A strong family history of colorectal cancer or polyps;
• Families with hereditary colorectal cancer syndromes;
• A personal history of colorectal cancer or polyps; or
• A personal history of chronic inflammatory bowel disease.

Organizations like the American Cancer Society hope as more people speak publicly about this disease, it will encourage others to address the issue ? leading to regular screening, early diagnosis and more lives saved.

For more information, call the American Cancer Society?s National Call Center at 1-800-ACS-2345. One phone call puts you in contact with cancer information specialists who can provide you and your family with the most comprehensive cancer-related information available today. You also can visit the American Cancer Society?s accurate, up-to-date Web site at www.cancer.org. This Web site offers information on a variety of subjects and is written by medical professionals and translated by literary professionals making it easy to understand.