About Colorectal Cancer
Colorectal cancer (commonly known as colon cancer) is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States and is the most deadly cancer among non-smoking men and women. Annually, there are nearly 154,000 colorectal cancer cases diagnosed and 52,000 deaths due to this disease.
It is estimated that roughly one-third of colorectal cancer-related deaths could be avoided if more people underwent regular screening. Of those diagnosed, nearly half are expected to die within five years because most cases are detected when cancer has progressed and is less treatable.
For those whose cancer is detected at an earlier stage, the five-year survival rate can be greater than 90%. The American Cancer Society recommends that all Americans age 50 and older be regularly screened for colorectal cancer. Unfortunately, only a fraction of this population is screened for the disease.
Exact Sciences' sDNA test now in development may provide an additional tool for cancer screening that allows for early detection of the disease state.