Alternative names
Colorectal cancer; Cancer - colon
Definition
Colon cancer is cancer that starts in the large intestine (colon) or
the rectum (end of the colon). Such cancer is sometimes referred to as
"colorectal cancer."
Other types of colon cancer such as lymphoma, carcinoid tumors,
melanoma, and sarcomas are rare. In this article, use of the term
"colon cancer" refers to colon carcinoma and not these rare types of
colon cancer.
Causes, incidence, and risk factors
According to the American Cancer Society, colorectal cancer is one of
the leading causes of cancer-related deaths in the United States.
(However, in almost all cases, early diagnosis can lead to a complete
cure.)
There is no single cause for colon cancer. Nearly all colon cancers
begin as benign polyps, which slowly develop into cancer.
What is cancer of the colon and rectum?

The colon is the part of the digestive system where the waste material
is stored. The rectum is the end of the colon adjacent to the anus.
Together, they form a long, muscular tube called the large intestine
(also known as the large bowel). Tumors of the colon and rectum are
growths arising from the inner wall of the large intestine. Benign
tumors of the large intestine are called polyps. Malignant tumors of
the large intestine are called cancers. Benign polyps do not invade
nearby tissue or spread to other parts of the body. Benign polyps can
be easily removed during colonoscopy, and are not life threatening. If
benign polyps are not removed from the large intestine, they can
become malignant (cancerous) over time. Most of the cancers of the
large intestine are believed to have developed from polyps. Cancer of
the colon and rectum (also referred to as colorectal cancer) can
invade and damage adjacent tissues and organs. Cancer cells can also
break away and spread to other parts of the body (such as liver and
lung) where new tumors form. The spread of colon cancer to

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