Colon Cancer Explained: Signs, Risks and Prevention Tips You Should Know

In the past few years, colorectal or colon cancer has become a hot topic with news of celebrities -- such as Chadwick Boseman -- passing away after battling the disease. In 2025, the American Cancer Society estimates that there will be about 107,320 new cases of colon cancer in the US, with 54,510 new cases in men and 52,810 in women. And while colon cancer rates dropped by about 1% each year from 2012 to 2021, this was mostly in older adults. For people younger than age 55, rates have increased by 2.4% each year from 2012 to 2021. Different from stomach cancer (or gastric cancer), it's important to understand the signs of colon cancer, the risk factors and what you can do to prevent it. What is colon cancer? The colon is a part of the large intestine; colon cancer forms here when there's an abnormal growth of polyps that form into cancerous cells over time. According to the Mayo Clinic, the polyps are small and may cause few to no symptoms. Regular screening is recommended, particu ... Read full article.