Cancer of the colon and rectum is one of the most curable forms of the disease. When detected early and treated promptly, over three-quarters of all such patients can be cured and are able to return to normal lives. Since colorectal cancer develops over a period of time, it is possible to detect the disease long before symptoms occur. Early detection of small cancers in polyps also reduces the likelihood of major surgery. And the need for a colostomy, the creation of an abdominal opening for the excretion of bodily wastes, is decreased. Today, permanent colostomies are rare in cases of colon cancer, and are required for only a small percentage of patients with rectal cancer.

Colorectal cancer is second only to lung cancer in terms of incidence. Currently, more than 151,000 new cases develop; and about 60,000 people die from the disease each year. Over 90 percent of cases occur after the age of 50. It occurs slightly more often among women than men. Anyone with a personal or family history of colorectal cancer, polyps in the colon, or ulcerative colitis, is at particularly high risk for the disease and should be examined carefully.

Three effective tests can detect colorectal cancer simply, safely, and with little discomfort. The stool blood test, a simple st-home procedure, checks the stool for hidden blood which can be a sign of cancer or other internal disorders. You prepare special slides and give them to your physician. The digital rectal examination allows a physician to feel a tumor in the rectum, if one is present. For men, this exam also helps to detect prostate cancer in its earliest stages. In the proctosigmoidoscopy or "procto" examination, a physician inspects the rectum and lower colon with a hollow, lighted tube. The flexible, fiberoptic sigmoidoscope can view a greater portion of the intestinal tract. When na growth is discovered, a small tissue sample is removed for examination. If cancer is found, surgery, sometimes combined with radiation therapy, is the most effective method of treatment.

The American Cancer Society recommends that these procedures - all part of a cancer-related checkup - be performed at the following intervals: A digital rectal examination every year after 40. A stool blood test every year after 50. A procto every three to five years after the age of 50, based on the advice of a physician. These guidelines only apply to people without symptoms. If you have a change in bowel habits or rectal bleeding, see your doctor right away.

As you approach the appropriate age groups, ask your doctor which early detection procedures you should have and how often. If your medical history places you at high risk for colon and rectum cancer, you may need to have these tests done earlier and more frequently. After all, they are your best insurance for detecting colorectal cancer when it may be easily cured by prompt treatment.