Cancer of the colon and rectum is called colorectal cancer. The colon and rectum are part of the large intestine. Colon cancer and rectal cancer are slow-growing cancers: they take a long time to develop. Colon polyps can be a sign of colorectal cancer and can be detected during a colonoscopy.
The colon and rectum are part of the large intestine. The large intestine is where absorption of water from the stool occurs. The rectum stores stool until it is eliminated from the body.
Cancer that develops in the large intestine and rectum is called colorectal cancer. Most colorectal cancers develop on the lining of the large intestine or rectum. This type of cancer is called an adenocarcinoma. The risk for developing colorectal cancer increases at age 40 and peaks between the ages of 60 and 75. Colon cancer is more common among women; rectal cancer is more common among men.
Colon cancer usually begins as a buttonlike growth, called a colon polyp, on the surface of the intestinal lining. A colon polyp can develop in the large intestine or rectum. Colon polyps can be cancerous (malignant) or noncancerous (benign). The larger the colon polyp, the more likely it is to be cancerous.
Colorectal cancer grows slowly and does not cause symptoms for a long time. As colon cancer develops, it can invade the wall of the intestine or rectum and spread to the lymph nodes and liver. Symptoms depend on the type, location, and extent of the cancer. The most common first symptom of rectal cancer is bleeding during bowel movements. Fatigue, weakness, and persistent constipation are also symptoms of colorectal cancer.
A colonoscopy is a diagnostic procedure used to identify colon polyps. During a colonoscopy, the patient is sedated so that the doctor can view the large intestine using a fiberoptic camera. Colon polyps can be identified and immediately removed and biopsied, which lowers the risk for developing colorectal cancer and can improve the patient's prognosis if the cancer is identified early.
Explore the Colorectal Cancer Condition Guide now for patient education on colon and rectal cancer, diagnostic tests, and more.
