The colon and the rectum are part of the large intestine, which is part of the digestive system. Because colon cancer and rectal cancers have many features in common, they are sometimes referred to together as colorectal cancer. Cancerous tumors found in the colon or rectum also may spread to other parts of the body.

Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States. However, the number of new cases of colorectal cancer, and the number of deaths due to colorectal cancer, have decreased, which is attributed to increased colonoscopy screening and polyp removal.

Risk factors:

Risk factors for colorectal cancer include:

• age; colorectal cancer is most common in people over 50
• family history; a parent or sibling with colorectal cancer increases overall risk
• inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's disease or colitis)
• lack of physical activity and obesity
• a diet high in fat
• smoking
• alcohol abuse

Symptoms:

The following are the most common symptoms for colorectal cancer; however, each individual may experience symptoms differently.

People who have any of the following symptoms should check with their physicians, especially if they are over 40 years old or have a personal or family history of the disease:

• a change in bowel habits such as diarrhea, constipation, or narrowing of the stool that lasts for more than a few days
• bright red or very dark rectal bleeding or blood in the stool
• cramping or gnawing stomach pain
• decreased appetite
• vomiting
• weakness and fatigue
• jaundice (yellowish coloring) of the skin or sclera of the eye
• unexplained weight loss

The symptoms of colorectal cancer may resemble other conditions such as infections, hemorrhoids, and inflammatory bowel disease. It is important to talk to the physician since finding colorectal cancer early makes successful treatment more likely.

It is also possible to have colon cancer and not have any symptoms.

Treatment:

The choice of treatment for colorectal cancer depends on the stage of the disease, how large the tumor has grown, how deeply it involves the layers of the colon or rectum, and whether it has spread to other organs (most commonly the liver), lymph nodes, or other parts of the body.

Surgery is the most common form of treatment for colorectal cancers. The surgeon will remove the tumor along with part of the healthy colon and lymph nodes to perform biopsies.

Chemotherapy and radiation therapy are often used in conjunction with surgery to treat colorectal cancers.

In addition, at the Multidisciplinary Gastrointestinal Oncology Center, there are several clinical trials available to colorectal cancer patients.