It’s not a topic most of us are anxious to discuss. To most of us, it’s an unfortunate thing that happens to other people. Statistics show that it can strike at any time though, and the best weapon in our arsenal is information. I’m talking about colorectal cancer.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, 52,857 Americans died of colorectal cancer in 2008. It’s one of the most commonly diagnosed types of cancer and is also the second-most lethal of those cancers, which affect both men and women. It’s also one of the most treatable when it’s detected early.