What is colon or rectal cancer?
Treatable—and more likely to be cured—when detected early.
Colon cancer affects men and women in approximately the same numbers; rectal cancer
affects more men than women.
The
colon and
rectum are the last parts of the digestive system which is also known
as the gastrointestinal, or GI, system. The colon:
- Is responsible for the final stages of the digestive process
- Absorbs water and nutrients from food matter
- Accepts and stores food remains that were not digested in the small intestine
- Eliminates solid waste (fecal matter or stool) from the body through bowel movements
The importance of early detection.
Colon or rectal cancer happens when cells in the colon and/or rectum grow out of
control and don’t function normally. Finding colon or rectal cancer
early can help improve chances of survival. Colon cancer often starts
as a
polyps in the colon or rectum.
A polyp that is found early can be surgically removed. If ignored, a
colon or rectal cancer polyp can become a cancerous tumor. The tumor
can spread, or metastasize to other parts of the body.
The types of polyps that are most likely to become cancerous are called adenomatous
polyps. The majority of colorectal cancers are adenocarcinomas,
which are cancers of the glandular cells that line the inside layer of the colon
and rectum walls.
Cases are declining.
Since 1995 there has been a decrease in the number of deaths from colon and rectal
cancer. This decrease may be due to the decline in new cases over the past 10 years
and successful screening which have allowed
for early detection and
treatment.
Learn about the stages of colorectal
cancer