Before the disease that we call cancer is formed, usually it is formed a non cancerous polyp or an abnormal growth, that has the potential of becoming cancerous if it is not discovered and treated in time. When these abnormal growths are actually developed, the cancer is formed and starts by itself evolving and growing. Adenoma is the name of the polyp that has the greatest potential of becoming cancerous of all.

So, after you have heard about these things, probably the next element you may ask is how these polyps can be discovered in order to remove them in time, before becoming cancerous. Well, the answer is simple: through screening tests. Having a screening test is the first step in the early discovery and diagnosis of colon caner. In this medical intervention the doctor will be able to see inside the individual’s colon and check for any abnormal growth that could have been formed there. If something seems to be wrong, he doctor can decide to remove it and eliminate the danger of becoming cancer.


After a screening test is done the stage of the cancer can be established and then the treatment can start, because the medicines or medical intervention applied depend very much on the exact stage of the cancer. The fact that many people do not have screenings at the recommended periods is one of the causes why so many are discovered with colon cancer years after these polyps were formed. The percentage of population with colon cancer is today very high, and it tends to become even higher, despite of the free screening programs that have been introduced in many countries.


Almost 50000 people are diagnosed with colon cancer every year and this is only what happens in the United States, where usually the percentages of population with colon cancer are lower because of the good medical system and the degree on informing the US citizens have on this matter. Even if they know and have heard about colon cancer, individuals do not have the recommended screening tests, because they think that it will not happen to them, mostly if they do not present the main risk factors of colon cancer.

However, one on the main risk factor, the family heritage regarding colon cancer is a cause of the all diagnosed cancers for about 89 percent of the patients, meaning that the others, 11 percent got the disease even if no one else in their family had it. So, the recommendation is that is you are over the age of 45 and mostly 50, to have the screening procedures when your doctors advice you. This is the best way to discover cancer before it is formed and treat it very easy when it is developed in the earliest stages.