In Western countries, cancer of the large intestine and rectum (colorectal cancer) is the second most common type of cancer and the second leading cause of cancer death (after lung cancer). The incidence of colorectal cancer begins to rise at age 40 and peaks between ages 60 and 75. Cancer of the large intestine (colon cancer) is more common in women; rectal cancer is more common in men. About 5 per cent of the people with colon or rectal cancer have more than one cancer of the colorectum at the same time. People with a family history of colon cancer have a higher risk of developing the...