Can colorectal cancer be prevented?

In some cases, yes. Colorectal cancer often begins as a growth called a polyp inside the colon or rectum, and finding and removing polyps can prevent colorectal cancer.

This is why checking for polyps matters. Removing a polyp before it becomes cancer is a chance to stop that cancer from ever forming.

Screening tests can be used to detect colorectal cancer and polyps. These tests give a healthcare team a way to look for polyps and cancer, sometimes before symptoms appear. Your healthcare team can explain which screening options may be right for you and when to have them.