--- title: The Importance of Colorectal Cancer Awareness description: March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness month. Here's why you should know more about it. image: https://www.ligastrohealth.com/hubfs/Blog/LICDH-The-Importance-of-Colorectal-Cancer-Awareness.jpg --- [![Logo](https://www.ligastrohealth.com/hubfs/Licdh%20January2018%20Theme/Images/GA-Logo_BlueWhite2b.png)](https://www.ligastrohealth.com/) [![Logo](https://www.ligastrohealth.com/hubfs/Licdh%20January2018%20Theme/Images/GA-Logo_BlueBlack2b.png)](https://www.ligastrohealth.com/) ![Gastroenterology Associates Blog Header](https://www.ligastrohealth.com/hubfs/Licdh%20January2018%20Theme/Images/LICDH_Title_Inner2b.jpg) ![doctor consulting female patient](https://www.ligastrohealth.com/hubfs/Blog/LICDH-The-Importance-of-Colorectal-Cancer-Awareness.jpg) SHARE # The Importance of Colorectal Cancer Awareness ### March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness month. Here's why you should know more about it. March 11, 2020 • 6 minute read March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. Regular screenings are key to early detection and prevention and can make all the difference. ## **What is colorectal cancer?** [Colorectal cancer](https://www.ligastrohealth.com/colon-cancer/) is the umbrella term for cancers affecting the colon and rectum. Colon and rectal cancer account for 71 and 29 percent of colorectal diagnoses, respectively. Most CRCs start as polyps on the lining of the colon. ## **How common is colorectal cancer?** According to the American Cancer Society, colorectal cancer is the [third most common cancer](https://www.cancer.org/cancer/colon-rectal-cancer/about/key-statistics.html) diagnosed in both men and women in the U.S., and the New York Department of Health considers it one of the most frequently diagnosed cancers in the state. ### **![colorectal cancer at a glance](https://www.ligastrohealth.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog/colorectal%20cancer.png?width=1294&name=colorectal%20cancer.png)** > Estimates show that there will be approximately 148,000 new cases of colorectal cancer across the U.S. in 2020. ## **How likely am I to get colorectal cancer?** Independent of other risk factors, the lifetime risk of developing colorectal cancer is 1 in 23 (4.4 percent) for men and 1 in 25 (4.1 percent) for women. However, several risk factors can increase the likelihood of diagnosis. ### Risk factors: - **Family history** - **Diet and exercise** - **Smoking history** - **Age** ## **What is the survival rate?** Between 2012-2016, 259,662 people in the U.S. died of colorectal cancer. It’s the third leading cause of cancer-related death in the U.S. according to the Centers for Disease Control. In New York state, it’s the second leading cause of cancer-related death. Survival rates are largely dependent on what stage at which the cancer is caught, with early detection being the best indicator of the likelihood of survival. Here’s how they break down: **COLON CANCER:** | **SEER Stage** | **5-year survival rate** | | --- | --- | | Localized (Stages 0 & 1) | 90% | | Regional (Stages 2 & 3) | 71% | | Distant (Stage 4) | 14% | | All SEER stages combined | 63% |   **RECTAL CANCER:** | **SEER Stage** | **5-year survival rate** | | --- | --- | | Localized (Stages 0 & 1) | 89% | | Regional (Stages 2 & 3) | 71% | | Distant (Stage 4) | 15% | | All SEER stages combined | 67% |   ## **What can I do to prevent colorectal cancer?** Early detection is essential for increasing survival rates, as it could prevent 60 percent of colorectal cancer deaths. Experts recommend that all adults over the age of 45 get regular screenings, while individuals with first-degree family members who have been diagnosed with colorectal cancer should start screenings 10 years earlier. Colonoscopy is the gold standard for finding and removing the polyps that turn into colorectal cancer.   [Download our infographic](https://www.ligastrohealth.com/hubfs/Blog/LICDH_ColorectalCancerAwarenessMonth-2020.pdf)   **SOURCES:** United States colorectal cancer statistics: [https://gis.cdc.gov/Cancer/USCS/DataViz.html](https://gis.cdc.gov/Cancer/USCS/DataViz.html) New York state colorectal cancer statistics: [https://www.health.ny.gov/statistics/cancer/registry/cntymaps/cntymaps.pdf](https://www.health.ny.gov/statistics/cancer/registry/cntymaps/cntymaps.pdf) Nassau County colorectal cancer statistics: [https://www.health.ny.gov/statistics/cancer/registry/vol1/v1cnassau.htm](https://www.health.ny.gov/statistics/cancer/registry/vol1/v1cnassau.htm) Colorectal cancer in New York state: [https://www.health.ny.gov/statistics/cancer/registry/abouts/colorectal.htm](https://www.health.ny.gov/statistics/cancer/registry/abouts/colorectal.htm) Key statistics for colorectal cancer: [https://www.cancer.org/cancer/colon-rectal-cancer/about/key-statistics.html](https://www.cancer.org/cancer/colon-rectal-cancer/about/key-statistics.html) About colorectal cancer: [https://www.cancer.org/cancer/colon-rectal-cancer/about/what-is-colorectal-cancer.html](https://www.cancer.org/cancer/colon-rectal-cancer/about/what-is-colorectal-cancer.html) Risk factors for colorectal cancer: [https://www.cancer.org/cancer/colon-rectal-cancer/causes-risks-prevention/risk-factors.html](https://www.cancer.org/cancer/colon-rectal-cancer/causes-risks-prevention/risk-factors.html) Relative survival trends in colorectal cancer: [https://ascopubs.org/doi/abs/10.1200/JCO.2018.36.4_suppl.587](https://ascopubs.org/doi/abs/10.1200/JCO.2018.36.4_suppl.587) Colorectal incidence and mortality in under-50 population: [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5564445/](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5564445/) Early diagnosis improves survival in colorectal cancer: [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22988701](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22988701) Facts about colorectal cancer: [https://fightcolorectalcancer.org/colorectal-cancer/facts-stats/](https://fightcolorectalcancer.org/colorectal-cancer/facts-stats/) Stages of colorectal cancer: [https://www.ligastrohealth.com/blog/about-the-5-stages-of-colon-cancer](https://www.ligastrohealth.com/blog/about-the-5-stages-of-colon-cancer) Colon cancer detection and colonoscopies: [https://www.ligastrohealth.com/colon-cancer/](https://www.ligastrohealth.com/colon-cancer/) ### Stay Connected: Subscribe to our blog By subscribing, you’ll receive notifications regarding health and wellness, your diet, and more #### Related Articles [![Understanding Upper Endoscopies: What You Need to Know](https://www.ligastrohealth.com/hubfs/Blog/doctor-holding-endoscope-in-front-of-patient.jpg)](https://www.ligastrohealth.com/blog/understanding-upper-endoscopies) [**Understanding Upper Endoscopies: What You Need to Know**](https://www.ligastrohealth.com/blog/understanding-upper-endoscopies) [![Signs You Need to See a Gastroenterologist](https://www.ligastrohealth.com/hubfs/Blog/LICDH-Blog-6-Signs.jpg)](https://www.ligastrohealth.com/blog/signs-you-need-to-see-a-gastroenterologist) [**Signs You Need to See a Gastroenterologist**](https://www.ligastrohealth.com/blog/signs-you-need-to-see-a-gastroenterologist) [![Warning Signs of Pancreatitis](https://www.ligastrohealth.com/hubfs/Pancreatitis.jpg)](https://www.ligastrohealth.com/blog/warning-signs-of-pancreatitis) [**Warning Signs of Pancreatitis**](https://www.ligastrohealth.com/blog/warning-signs-of-pancreatitis) ### Schedule an Appointment For new and existing patients interested in making an appointment or learning more about our facility and the procedures we offer, please schedule a call or email to review your situation. 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