by 
The Curious Bag
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Colon cancer is a type of cancer that originates in the large intestines. Much like any other form of the disease, it has a characteristic rate of growth. But the actual time it takes to progress will vary greatly from person to person.
Timeframe
For the most part, the primary polyps associated with colon cancer have a relatively slow growth rate. According to the National Institute of Health, a precancerous polyp of less than 10 mm (millimeters) in size can remain unchanged for upwards of three years.
Identification
The importance of the polyps is that most cases of colon cancer stem from the formation of this cluster of cells along the walls of your large intestines.
Significance
With this delayed growth rate, colon cancer is quite treatable, especially when detected early. The abnormal polyp must simply be removed to treat the cancer in primary stages of the disease.
Effects
However, many of these polyps cause no indication of their actual presence, so regular screening is often necessary to detect these precancerous or cancerous growths.
Risk
Most people diagnosed with colon cancer are over the age of 50, so age is one of the main contributing factors of the condition. As you get older, it becomes more and more important for screening.
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