Colon Cancer

Carcinomas of the colon and rectum (here summarized as colon cancer) are among the most prevalent cancers in Western industrialized countries. Together with lung cancer, breast cancer in females and prostate cancer in males, they constitute the majority of lethal cancers in these countries and a major public health problem. Like breast and prostate cancer, colon cancer is much less prevalent in the developing world, but also in the richer Asian countries and Southern Europe. These differences point to important life style factors in the etiology of the disease. Good evidence exists for the involvement of dietary factors.