Colorectal cancer

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Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal cancer (pronounced: koh-loh-REK-tuhl KAN-ser), also known as bowel cancer and colon cancer, is a type of cancer that begins in the large intestine (colon). The colon is the final part of the digestive tract.

Etymology

The term "colorectal" is derived from the terms "colon" and "rectum", which are parts of the large intestine. "Cancer" comes from the Latin word for crab, "cancer", due to the crab-like spread of an invasive tumor.

Definition

Colorectal cancer typically affects older adults, though it can happen at any age. It usually begins as small, noncancerous (benign) clumps of cells called polyps that form on the inside of the colon. Over time some of these polyps can become colorectal cancers.

Symptoms

Symptoms of colorectal cancer include changes in bowel habits, such as diarrhea or constipation or a change in the consistency of your stool, rectal bleeding or blood in your stool, persistent abdominal discomfort, such as cramps, gas or pain, a feeling that your bowel doesn't empty completely, weakness or fatigue and unexplained weight loss.

Causes

It's not clear what causes colorectal cancer in most cases. Doctors know that colorectal cancer occurs when healthy cells in the colon develop errors (mutations) in their DNA.

Related Terms

  • Adenoma: A type of polyp that is a precursor to colorectal cancer.
  • Metastasis: The process by which cancer spreads from the place at which it first arose as a primary tumor to distant locations in the body.
  • Chemotherapy: A type of cancer treatment that uses one or more anti-cancer drugs as part of a standardized chemotherapy regimen.
  • Radiation Therapy: Therapy using ionizing radiation, generally as part of cancer treatment to control or kill malignant cells.

External links

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