It is most common in people over the age of 50 and does not differ in gender. These cancers develop by the inappropriate (anarchic) proliferation of certain cells. These tumors can be benign (often polyps) and malignant (cancer).
The small intestine is about 4-6 meters long, while the large intestine is about 1.5 meters long. The large intestine is the organ where water and beneficial nutrients are absorbed.
In the last 15 years, with the increase in screening tests, colon cancers are detected at an early stage and mortality rates are decreasing. 70% of colon cancers are located in the left half of the large intestine, 25% in the right half and 5% in both halves (synchronous tumors).
According to the statistics of the American Cancer Institute in 2006, colon cancer; It is the third type of cancer after prostate cancer and lung cancer in men and the third after breast cancer and lung cancer in women, and the lifetime risk of developing colon and rectum cancer is 5% on average. According to the statistics of the World Health Organization, over 1 million new intestinal cancer cases were detected worldwide in 2008.