Colon cancer is one of the more common types of cancer in the United States. Doctors are still not sure exactly what causes colon cancer, although certain genes can increase the risk for colon cancer. However, if you catch colon cancer early it can often be cured. Many cases of colon cancer are detected each year even before patients experience symptoms through routine colon cancer screenings. The symptoms of colon cancer vary depending on the patient, the location of the tumor and the size of the tumor. More common symptoms include diarrhea, blood in your stool, rectal bleeding, black or tarry stools, narrow stools, constipation, abdominal pain or cramps, gas, fatigue, unexplained weight loss, weakness, unexplained iron deficiency anemia and a feeling that your bowel is not completely emptying. Many patients do not experience any of these symptoms until they have very advanced colon cancer, making routine colon cancer screening very important for catching these cancers while there is still a good chance of curing them. People who are at higher risk for colon cancer should speak with their doctor if they experience colon cancer symptoms, as early detection is important. This includes people over 50 years old, people with a family history of colon or Breast cancer, people who are obese or follow a sedentary lifestyle, people with chronic inflammatory diseases of the colon or Diabetes, and people who drink or consume a diet high in fat and low in fiber. The best test for detecting whether you actually have colon cancer is a colonoscopy, as it is the only test that examines the whole colon for polyps and other possible cancerous masses. Making lifestyle changes may help to lower you colon cancer risk. Consider losing weight if you are overweight or maintaining a healthy weight, stopping smoking, eating plenty of fruits and vegetables, exercising most days of the week and avoiding alcohol or only drinking alcohol in moderation.