Test Your Colon Cancer IQ

Answer: Colon cancer rates are roughly the same for men and women.

Answer: Most polyps are not cancerous (benign) but over time some types of polyps can turn into cancer. To be safe, doctors remove polyps and test them.

Answer: If no other risk factors are present, screening should start at age 50. If you have a direct relative (mother, father, sibling, aunt, uncle) with colon cancer, you should consider starting screenings at age 40.

Answer: Family history of colon cancer may increase your risk.

Answer: A colonoscopy makes it possible to view the entire colon (a flexible sigmoidoscopy only views a portion) as well as remove polyps immediately. It is considered the "gold standard" in the early discovery of colon cancer.

Answer: Although the most important risk factor is age, all of the above increase your chances of getting colon cancer.

Answer: When colon cancer is found in the early stage, 90 percent of patients were still alive five years later.

Answer: The first three choices can be symptoms of later stage colon cancer. However, in its early stages, colon cancer rarely has symptoms. That is why screenings are so important.

Answer: Removing the cancer is the most common treatment. Depending on the case, chemotherapy and radiation are sometimes also used.

Answer: Although living a healthy lifestyle is important, screening is the most important step to take.