Colon cancer is a malignancy that arises in the large intestine, often developing from precancerous polyps over many years. Symptoms may include changes in bowel habits, blood in the stool, abdominal discomfort, and unexplained weight loss, though early stages can be asymptomatic. Screening colonoscopies can detect and remove polyps before they become cancerous, significantly improving outcomes. Prognosis depends on stage at diagnosis, lymph-node involvement, and response to surgery and chemotherapy. In life insurance underwriting, colon cancer history is evaluated by stage, treatment completion, time since remission, and surveillance results.

Underwriters review colon cancer cases using pathology reports, surgical notes, oncology records, and follow-up colonoscopy results. Early-stage cancers successfully resected with clean margins and no nodal involvement may be insurable at rated terms after a waiting period, while advanced or recurrent disease often leads to higher ratings or declines. Advisors gather complete documentation and explain to clients why stage and time since treatment are critical. They may also encourage age-appropriate colonoscopy screening as a preventive measure. Understanding colon cancer helps advisors approach sensitive health discussions with empathy while setting realistic underwriting expectations.