What You Need to Know About Colon Cancer

How colon and rectal cancer impacts African-Americans.

March Is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month - This month is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. Read more about colon and rectal cancer and how it disproportionately impacts African-Americans. —(@kelleent) Kellee Terrell(Photo: Rob Kim/Getty Images for Fight Colorectal Cancer)

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March Is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month - This month is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. Read more about colon and rectal cancer and how it disproportionately impacts African-Americans. —(@kelleent) Kellee Terrell(Photo: Rob Kim/Getty Images for Fight Colorectal Cancer)

Getting Tested for CD - The signs for CD can look like other issues like colon cancer and colitis, so the doctor will rule out everything by having you take a blood test, colonoscopy, fecal test and a MRI to name a few.  (Photo: ZEPHYR/Getty Images)

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What Is Colon Cancer? - Colon cancer is cancer of your colon, also known as your large intestine. Rectal cancer is cancer of the last several inches of your colon. Together, they're often referred to as colorectal cancers, says the Mayo Clinic. Good news: Colon cancer is curable when found early. (Photo: ZEPHYR/Getty Images)

Blacks and Crohn’s Disease - While CD is more common among whites, our numbers have been going up in the past years. Past studies have shown that when we have CD our disease and symptoms are much more severe than whites. Also, Blacks are grossly underrepresented in clinical trials.  (Photo: American Cancer Society/Getty Images)

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African-Americans and Colon Cancer - African-Americans have the highest colorectal cancer rates and we are more likely to die from this disease than whites. Black men are 1.3 times more likely to develop colon and rectal cancer, according to the Office of Minority Health. (Photo: American Cancer Society/Getty Images)

Your Diet and Colon Cancer - Past data has suggested that eating red and processed meats can greatly increase your risk of colon cancer, but a new study says that may not be true. Eating a diet high in fiber, such as almonds, mushrooms and oranges, can decrease your risk of developing this cancer.   (Photo: Mark McLane/Gety Images)

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Your Diet and Colon Cancer - Past data has suggested that eating red and processed meats can greatly increase your risk of colon cancer, but a new study says that may not be true. Eating a diet high in fiber, such as almonds, mushrooms and oranges, can decrease your risk of developing this cancer.   (Photo: Mark McLane/Gety Images)

Understanding Polyps - Polyps (growths) can be found in the colon and/or rectum. They can be precancerous or noncancerous. If polyps are found, they are usually removed, which can help prevent cancer from forming. (Photo: CNRI/Getty Images)

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Understanding Polyps - Polyps (growths) can be found in the colon and/or rectum. They can be precancerous or noncancerous. If polyps are found, they are usually removed, which can help prevent cancer from forming. (Photo: CNRI/Getty Images)

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Major Symptoms  - Having polyps doesn’t mean you have cancer, so it’s important to notice other signs, says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Those symptoms may include: Blood in or on the stool (bowel movement); stomach pain, aches or cramps that do not go away and losing weight for unknown reasons. (Photo: i love images/Getty Images)

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Who Should Be Screened? - Screening for colorectal cancer should be happening before symptoms develop. Screening is mostly encouraged for people with a family history, past history of other cancers and a history of polyps.  (Photo: Rick Gershon/Getty Images)

What Does Screening Look Like? - One test is a colonoscopy (every 10 years) that takes a tube and looks at your entire length of your colon and rectum with a colonoscope. Other tests include a high-sensitivity fecal occult blood test (FOBT), stool test, fecal immunochemical test (FIT) (all yearly), and a sigmoidoscopy (every five years, with FOBT every three years), says Cancer.org. (Photo: Pamela Moore/Getty Images)

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What Does Screening Look Like? - One test is a colonoscopy (every 10 years) that takes a tube and looks at your entire length of your colon and rectum with a colonoscope. Other tests include a high-sensitivity fecal occult blood test (FOBT), stool test, fecal immunochemical test (FIT) (all yearly), and a sigmoidoscopy (every five years, with FOBT every three years), says Cancer.org. (Photo: Pamela Moore/Getty Images)

Jan. 14, 2014 - An expiring special federal program that covers people with serious pre-existing conditions, like cancer and heart disease, extended another month for the second time. (Photo: Chris Hondros/Getty Images)

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Possible Treatments for Colon Cancer - Once you have been diagnosed with colon cancer and doctors know which stage that cancer is in, they will develop the right treatment strategy for you. The four main options are: surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy and targeted therapy. Read more about treatment options here.  (Photo: Chris Hondros/Getty Images)