Colorectal Cancer, Explained Without the Jargon
Colorectal Cancer: what it is, why it matters, and what published guidance actually asks of you.
It is highly treatable when found early, screening can find it before symptoms, and rates in younger adults are rising.
Key takeaways
- Screening: recommended for adults 45 to 75
- Screening options: yearly stool test (FIT), colonoscopy every 10 years, and others
- Most useful single change: Start screening at 45, or earlier if your doctor advises.
- Commonest mistake: Assuming rectal bleeding is always hemorrhoids.
- See a doctor if any of the signs under "When to speak to a doctor" below apply to you.
The short answer
Cancer of the colon or rectum, one of the most common cancers in the US.
Where it fits
This is part of Cancer Awareness. Guidance sets out what to look for and what to do about it, which is what the rest of this page covers.
The numbers, in one place
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Screening | recommended for adults 45 to 75 |
| Screening options | yearly stool test (FIT), colonoscopy every 10 years, and others |
| Key symptoms | change in bowel habits, blood in stool, weight loss, abdominal pain |
| Rising incidence | in adults under 50 |
What that means in practice
Put another way, here is what it asks of you:
- Start screening at 45, or earlier if your doctor advises
- Report rectal bleeding even if you think it is hemorrhoids
- Report a change in bowel habits that does not go away
- Tell your doctor about family history, which can change when and how you are screened
What gets people into trouble
And the things that tend to go wrong:
- Assuming rectal bleeding is always hemorrhoids
- Assuming you are too young; incidence in under-50s is rising
- Waiting for pain, which often comes late
Related topics
- Colorectal Cancer Screening: What Published Guidance Supports (Men's Health)
- The Evidence on Cancer Screening Recommendations, Without the Hype (Preventive Care)
- The Evidence on Anemia, Without the Hype (Blood Health)
- What the Guidance Really Says About Hemorrhoids (Digestive Health)
Where to go next
- Starting Out With Colorectal Cancer
- Your Questions About Colorectal Cancer, Answered
- Colorectal Cancer — the reference entry
- Cancer Awareness: The Complete Guide
- Breast Cancer: Sorting the Evidence From the Noise
- What the Guidance Really Says About Cancer Survivorship
When to speak to a doctor
See your doctor promptly for a lasting change in bowel habits, blood in your stool, unexplained weight loss, persistent abdominal pain, a lump in the abdomen, or unexplained iron-deficiency anemia. Go to the emergency room or call 911 for severe abdominal pain with vomiting and inability to pass gas or stool, or for heavy rectal bleeding.
Where this comes from
- US Preventive Services Task Force — Colorectal Cancer: Screening
- American Cancer Society — Colorectal Cancer Signs and Symptoms
How this page was put together
Every figure, recommendation and warning above is taken from the guidance named in Where this comes from. Nothing on this page is inferred, summarized or generalized beyond what those bodies publish: where they give a number, it is their number, and where they are silent, so are we. Pages are rebuilt whenever the underlying record changes. Sign-off by a named clinician, where it has happened, is shown at the top of the page along with the date.
Medical disclaimer
This article is general information, not medical advice. It cannot account for your own history, medication or circumstances. Always speak to your doctor, pharmacist or another qualified health professional before making changes that affect your treatment, and never delay seeking medical advice because of something you have read here. In an emergency, call 911.
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