TRAVERSE CITY -- It's a disease that can affect both men and women and is the second leading cancer killed in the United States. Colorectal cancer is a disease in which cells in the colon or rectum become abnormal and divide without control, forming a mass or tumor.
It’s most often found in people 50 or older and the risk increases with age. A person's risk may be higher than average if you or a close relative have had colorectal cancer, or if you have inflammatory bowel disease. People at high risk for colorectal cancer may need earlier or more frequent tests than other people.
These tests or screenings include regular colonoscopies to help detect and prevent the cancer at an early stage.
For more information about preventing colorectal cancer and the disease itself, click here.
To see the complete interview with Jeanie Aloia, a registered nurse who is certified in gastroenterology click on the video clip above.
