Colorectal cancer

What it is

Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer and second-biggest cancer killer worldwide. Screening by colonoscopy or stool test catches it early and removes precancerous polyps, and the United States has lowered the starting age to 45 as cases rise sharply in adults under 50, for reasons still unexplained. Treatment research centres on immunotherapy for the minority of tumours with mismatch-repair defects, blood tests that detect residual disease, and whether some patients can avoid surgery after a complete response to drugs.

Written by the Alivewire editors from the coverage below, 3d ago. Not medical advice; how the ratings work.