More than 100,000 people will get colorectal cancer in the next year. Of those, about half may die from the disease. That makes it the third-most non-skin cancer cause of cancer death in the United States among men and women, according to the American Cancer Society. It is also the second leading cause of overall cancer deaths.

What makes this disease so deadly? It develops in a region of the body that’s not easily seen, and the best test for it – the colonoscopy – is a somewhat arduous medical procedure.

Colon cancer is an equal-opportunity disease for men and women up to age 39. After that, men are more susceptible and have higher rates of colon cancer. African-Americans are particularly at risk, having higher incidents of developing colon cancer and greater mortality when it is detected.

While overall colon cancer rates and deaths are declining in the general population, mostly because of more screening and earlier detections, it’s still a major concern because the risk factors are high among the general population. Age, the growing number of obese people, physical inactivity, smoking, lots of alcohol drinking and particularly a family history of colon cancer are all prominent in the chances of whether an individual may be susceptible to developing the disease.

Where Does It Begin?

Colorectal cancer typically begins in the cells lining the colon that release fluids to propel food along the digestive tract. Eventually, polyps can occur, small growths that form along the inner wall. Once in place, they could develop into cancer and must be surgically removed, with the patient then subjected to chemotherapy, radiation therapy or other treatments. Close to $14 billion is spent on colorectal cancer care in the United States each year.