What Vermonters should know about colorectal cancer
Vermont Public
Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer for men and women in Vermont, and it is the second leading cause of cancer-related death in the state, said Dr. Randy Holcombe, the director of the University of Vermont Cancer Center and an expert in colorectal cancer.
But, colorectal cancer is a preventable and highly treatable form of cancer. Regular screenings can help detect it early and lead to higher survival rates.
"If it's caught early and localized, then survival rate is about 80% at five years," he said on Vermont Edition. "Unfortunately, if it's found when it's metastatic, or spread — that would be a Stage 4 cancer — then the five-year survival rate is only about 11%. So it makes a huge difference to try to catch the cancer early."
A recent report by the American Cancer Society found colorectal cancer rates are going up significantly among people in their 20s, 30s and 40s, while rates are declining in people over 65.