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The Guardian - US
The Guardian - US
Health
Sarah Sloat

What is colorectal cancer and is it preventable?

A blue and black graphic illustration of the torso of an individual, with the large intestine/colon in red.
Colorectal cancer is an umbrella term for colon and rectal cancers. Photograph: Sebastian Kaulitzki/Science Photo Library/Getty Images/Science Photo Library RF

Actor James Van Der Beek died on 11 February, aged 48; he had been diagnosed in 2023 with colorectal cancer.

According to the World Health Organization, colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. While rates are declining overall, cases among younger people are rising.

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