Screening and early detection are the keys to fighting colorectal cancer, says colorectal surgeon David Halleran, MD, section chief of surgery at Upstate‘s community campus. "As with all cancers, and particularly colorectal cancers, the earlier you find the cancers, the better your  survival rates,” he said, noting that the biggest risk factor is age, which is why a screening is recommended at age 50. Other risk factors include family history, smoking and obesity. Halleran describes the various tests for colorectal cancer, how often they are recommended and how the disease has changed from a killer to one that can often be cured if detected early.