Deaths from colorectal cancer rank third after lung and prostate cancer for men and third after lung and breast cancer for women.

But mortality rates are decreasing. Increased awareness, more screenings, and advances in treatment have helped reduce the number of deaths from colorectal cancers.

Age and history play a role in your risk of developing colorectal cancer. Your risk increases if you:

• Are more than 50 years of age
• Have a family or personal history of cancer
• Have polyps in your colon
• Have ulcerative or Crohn's colitis

Symptoms of colon cancer include:

• Change in bowel habits
• Blood in stools
• Stools narrower than usual
• General abdominal discomfort
• Unknown reason for weight loss

Several tests are available to detect colorectal cancer:

• Fecal occult blood test - test the stool for microscopic evidence of blood (annually)
• Sigmoidoscopy - viewing the interior lining of the lower one-third of the colon (every five years)
• Barium enema - special X-ray of the large intestine (every five years)
• Colonoscopy - viewing the interior lining of the entire large intestine (every 10 years)