Also called: Also called: Colon cancer, Rectal cancer
Cancer of the colon or rectum is also called colorectal cancer. In the United States, it is the fourth most common cancer in men and women. Caught early, it is often curable.
It is more common in people over 50, and the risk increases with age. You are also more likely to get it if you have
- Polyps - growths inside the colon and rectum that may become cancerous
- A diet that is high in fat
- A family history or personal history of colorectal cancer
- Ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease
Symptoms can include blood in the stool, narrower stools, a change in bowel habits and general stomach discomfort. However, you may not have symptoms at first, so screening is important. Everyone who is 50 or older should be screened for colorectal cancer. Colonoscopy is one method that your doctor can use to screen for colorectal cancer. Treatments for colorectal cancer include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation or a combination.
National Cancer Institute
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Colon Cancer
(Patient Education Institute) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tutorials/coloncancer/htm/index.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/tutorials/coloncancerspanish/htm/index.htm -
Colorectal Cancer (PDQ): Screening
(National Cancer Institute) - http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/screening/colorectal/patient/
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What You Need to Know about Cancer of the Colon and Rectum(National Cancer Institute) - http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/wyntk/colon-and-rectum
Also available in Spanish http://www.cancer.gov/espanol/sabersobre/colonyrecto/
- Colorectal (Colon) Cancer(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/colorectal/
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Colorectal Cancer
(National Cancer Institute) - http://nihseniorhealth.gov/colorectalcancer/toc.html
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JAMA Patient Page: Colon Cancer(American Medical Association) - Links to PDF - http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/reprint/300/23/2816.pdf
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Learn about Colorectal Cancer
(Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion) - http://healthfinder.gov/prevention/ViewTopic.aspx?topicID=26
- What Is Colorectal Cancer?(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/cri/content/cri_2_4_1x_what_is_colon_and_rectum_cancer.asp?sitearea=cri
- HRT May Protect Women from Colon Cancer(04/22/2009, HealthDay) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_83240.html
- Doctor-Patient Talks Key to Blacks Getting Cancer Screens(04/20/2009, HealthDay) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_83123.html
- Targeted Treatments Show Mettle Against Advanced Cancers(04/20/2009, HealthDay) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_83112.html
- More News on Colorectal Cancer http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/alphanews_c.html#colorectalcancer
- Colon Adenocarcinoma(College of American Pathologists) - Links to PDF - http://www.cap.org/apps/docs/reference/myBiopsy/ColonAdenocarcinoma.pdf
- Fecal Occult Blood Test(American Association for Clinical Chemistry) - http://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/fecal_occult_blood/test.html
- How Is Colorectal Cancer Diagnosed?(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_3X_How_is_colon_and_rectum_cancer_diagnosed.asp
- How Is Colorectal Cancer Staged?(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_3X_How_is_colon_and_rectum_cancer_staged.asp
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Lower GI Series (Barium Enema)(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) - http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/lowergi/
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MedlinePlus: Colonoscopy(National Library of Medicine) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/colonoscopy.html
Also available in Spanish http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/colonoscopy.html
- Colon and Rectum Cancer: Making Treatment Decisions(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_8_Making_Treatment_Decisions_Colon_and_Rectum_Cancer.asp?sitearea=
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Colon Cancer (PDQ): Treatment(National Cancer Institute) - http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/colon/patient/
Also available in Spanish http://www.cancer.gov/espanol/pdq/tratamiento/colon/patient/
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Colon Cancer Surgery(Patient Education Institute) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tutorials/coloncancersurgery/htm/index.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/tutorials/coloncancersurgeryspanish/htm/index.htm
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Colostomy(Patient Education Institute) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tutorials/colostomy/htm/index.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/tutorials/colostomyspanish/htm/index.htm
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Ileostomy, Colostomy and Ileoanal Reservoir Surgery(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) - http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/ileostomy/index.htm
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Laparoscopic Colon Resection(Society of American Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Surgeons) - http://www.sages.org/publications/publication.php?id=PI09
Also available in Spanish http://www.sages.org/publications/publication.php?id=PI09S
- Laparoscopic Proctosigmoidectomy: Basic Surgical Steps(Cleveland Clinic Foundation) - http://my.clevelandclinic.org/services/laparoscopic_surgery/hic_laparoscopic_proctosigmoidectomy_basic_surgical_steps.aspx
- Ostomy(American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons) - http://www.fascrs.org/patients/treatments_and_screenings/ostomy/
- Radiation Therapy for Colorectal Cancer(American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology) - http://www.rtanswers.org/treatment/disease/colon_cancer.htm
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Rectal Cancer (PDQ): Treatment(National Cancer Institute) - http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/rectal/patient/
Also available in Spanish http://www.cancer.gov/espanol/pdq/tratamiento/recto/patient/
- Treatment by Stage of Colon Cancer(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_4X_Treatment_by_Stage_of_Colon_Cancer.asp?sitearea=
- Treatment by Stage of Rectal Cancer(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_4X_Treatment_by_Stage_of_Rectum_Cancer.asp?sitearea=
- Can Colorectal Cancer Be Prevented?(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_2X_Can_colon_and_rectum_cancer_be_prevented.asp
- Can Colorectal Polyps and Cancer Be Found Early?(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_3X_Can_colon_and_rectum_cancer_be_found_early.asp
- Colon Cancer Guide(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/colon-cancer/CO99999/METHOD=print&PAGE=all
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Colorectal Cancer (PDQ): Prevention(National Cancer Institute) - http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/prevention/colorectal/patient/
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Colorectal Cancer (PDQ): Screening(National Cancer Institute) - http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/screening/colorectal/patient/
- Government Colorectal Cancer Screening Guidelines Updated(American Association for Clinical Chemistry) - http://labtestsonline.org/news/colon_screen081117.html
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JAMA Patient Page: Colon Cancer Screening(American Medical Association) - http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/reprint/295/10/1208.pdf
Also available in Spanish http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/data/289/10/1334/DC1/1
- Prevention the Focus of New Colon Cancer Screening Guidelines(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/NWS/content/NWS_1_1x_Prevention_the_Focus_of_New_Colon_Cancer_Screening_Guidelines.asp
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What Are the Risk Factors for Colorectal Cancer?(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_2X_What_are_the_risk_factors_for_colon_and_rectum_cancer.asp?rnav=cri
Also available in Spanish http://www.cancer.org/docroot/ESP/content/ESP_5_1X_Prevencion_y_factores_de_riesgo_10.asp?
- Colon Cleansing & Cancer Risk(University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center) - http://www.mdanderson.org/diseases/colorectal/display.cfm?id=80b56700-7f3d-11d4-aec800508bdcce3a&method=displayfull
- Colon and Rectum Cancer: During Treatment(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_8_During_Treatment_Colon_and_Rectum_Cancer.asp?sitearea=
- Colon and Rectum Cancer: If Cancer Recurs or Continues to Grow(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_8_If_Cancer_Recurs_or_Continues_to_Grow_Colon_and_Rectum_Cancer.asp?sitearea=
- Colon and Rectum Cancer: What Happens After Treatment?(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_5x_What_happens_after_treatment_10.asp
- Managing Side Effects(Colorectal Cancer Coalition) - http://fightcolorectalcancer.org/awareness/patients/treatment/managing_side_effects
- What to Know: ASCO's Guideline on Follow-Up Care for Colorectal Cancer(American Society of Clinical Oncology) - http://www.cancer.net/patient/ASCO+Resources/What+to+Know%3A+ASCO%27s+Guidelines/What+to+Know%3A+ASCO%27s+Guideline+on+Follow-Up+Care+for+Colorectal+Cancer
- Lynch Syndrome(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/lynch-syndrome/DS00669/DSECTION=all&METHOD=print
- What Should You Ask Your Doctor about Colorectal Cancer?(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_5X_What_should_you_ask_your_doctor_about_colon_and_rectum_cancer.asp
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Colon Cancer Risk Questionnaire(Siteman Cancer Center) - http://www.yourdiseaserisk.siteman.wustl.edu/hccpquiz.pl?lang=english&func=start&quiz=colon
Also available in Spanish http://www.yourdiseaserisk.wustl.edu/hccpquiz.pl?lang=spanish&func=start&quiz=colon
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Colorectal Cancer Risk Assessment Tool(National Cancer Institute) - http://www.cancer.gov/colorectalcancerrisk/
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Colorectal Cancer Risk: Understanding the Puzzle(National Cancer Institute) - http://understandingrisk.cancer.gov/a_colon/00.cfm
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Colon Cancer(Patient Education Institute) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tutorials/coloncancer/htm/index.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/tutorials/coloncancerspanish/htm/index.htm
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Colon Cancer Surgery(Patient Education Institute) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tutorials/coloncancersurgery/htm/index.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/tutorials/coloncancersurgeryspanish/htm/index.htm
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Colorectal Cancer(National Cancer Institute) - http://nihseniorhealth.gov/colorectalcancer/toc.html
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Colostomy(Patient Education Institute) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tutorials/colostomy/htm/index.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/tutorials/colostomyspanish/htm/index.htm
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Advances in Colorectal Cancer Therapies(OR-Live) - One hour program - 6/20/2007 - http://www.or-live.com/distributors/NLM/rnh.cfm?id=588
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Advances in Laparoscopic Colorectal Surgery(OR-Live) - One hour program - 4/23/2008 - http://www.or-live.com/distributors/nlm-flash/ens_2310/rnh.cfm?id=718
- Laparoscopic Sigmoid Colectomy(OR-Live) - One hour program - 6/21/2006 - http://www.or-live.com/distributors/NLM/rnh.cfm?id=309
- Minimally Invasive Colon Surgery(OR-Live) - One hour program - 1/24/2007 - http://www.or-live.com/distributors/NLM/rnh.cfm?id=388
- Total Proctocolectomy for Synchronous Colon and Recal Cancer(OR-Live) - One hour program - 7/24/2007 - http://www.or-live.com/distributors/nlm-flash/ens_1878/rnh.cfm?id=607
- Colorectal (Colon) Cancer: Insurance and Medicare(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/colorectal/basic_info/screening/insurance.htm
- Colorectal Cancer Awareness: Some Important Facts You Should Know about Colorectal Cancer!(Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) - http://www.medicare.gov/health/awareness.asp
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Colonic Neoplasms(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Colonic+Neoplasms%22
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Colorectal Neoplasms(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Colorectal+Neoplasms%22
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Rectal Neoplasms(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Rectal+Neoplasms%22
- Familial Adenomatous Polyposis(American Society of Clinical Oncology) - http://www.cancer.net/patient/Cancer+Types/Familial+Adenomatous+Polyposis
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Genetics Home Reference: Lynch syndrome(National Library of Medicine) - http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=lynchsyndrome
- Hereditary Mixed Polyposis Syndrome(American Society of Clinical Oncology) - http://www.cancer.net/patient/Cancer+Types/Hereditary+Mixed+Polyposis+Syndrome
- Juvenile Polyposis Syndrome(American Society of Clinical Oncology) - http://www.cancer.net/patient/Cancer+Types/Juvenile+Polyposis+Syndrome
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Learning about Colon Cancer(National Human Genome Research Institute) - http://www.genome.gov/page.cfm?pageID=10000466
- Muir-Torre Syndrome(American Society of Clinical Oncology) - http://www.cancer.net/patient/Cancer+Types/Muir-Torre+Syndrome
- MYH-Associated Polyposis(American Society of Clinical Oncology) - http://www.cancer.net/patient/Cancer+Types/MYH-Associated+Polyposis
- Turcot Syndrome(American Society of Clinical Oncology) - http://www.cancer.net/patient/Cancer+Types/Turcot+Syndrome
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5-FU-Based Chemotherapy Cures Some Patients with Colon Cancer(National Cancer Institute) - http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials/results/5-FU-colorectal0209
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Colorectal Cancer(National Institutes of Health) - Links to PDF - http://www.nih.gov/about/researchresultsforthepublic/Colorectalcancer.pdf
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Colorectal Cancer Drugs Require Careful Patient Selection(National Cancer Institute) - http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials/results/KRAS0608
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Colorectal Cancer Trials Support Gene Testing for Two Drugs(National Cancer Institute) - http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials/results/genetest1108
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Combining Targeted Drugs Is Worse in Colorectal Cancer(National Cancer Institute) - http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials/results/combo-targeted0209
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Drug Combination Cuts Risk of Advanced Colon Polyps(National Cancer Institute) - http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials/results/DFMO0408
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Effectiveness of Colonoscopy to Prevent Death from Colorectal Cancer(American College of Physicians) - Links to PDF - http://www.annals.org/cgi/reprint/150/1/I-28.pdf
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How Do Age and Comorbidity Affect the Likelihood of Being Screened for Colorectal Cancer?(American College of Physicians) - Links to PDF - http://www.annals.org/cgi/reprint/150/7/I-42.pdf
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Immunochemical Fecal Occult Blood Tests(American College of Physicians) - Links to PDF - http://www.annals.org/cgi/reprint/150/3/I-34.pdf
- Racial Gap Widens As Colorectal Cancer Death Rate Drops(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/NWS/content/NWS_1_1x_Racial_Gap_Widens_as_Colorectal_Cancer_Death_Rate_Drops.asp
- Research Examines Links between Family History and Colon Cancer Survival(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/NWS/content/NWS_1_1x_Research_Examines_Links_Between_Family_History_and_Colon_Cancer_Survival.asp
- Scientists Identify Genetic Contributor to Colorectal Cancer Risk(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/NWS/content/NWS_1_1x_Scientists_Identify_Genetic_Contributor_to_Colorectal_Cancer_Risk.asp
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Screening for Colorectal Cancer: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation(American College of Physicians) - Links to PDF - http://www.annals.org/cgi/reprint/149/9/I-44.pdf
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Stool DNA and Occult Blood Testing to Screen for Colorectal Neoplasia(American College of Physicians) - Links to PDF - http://www.annals.org/cgi/reprint/149/7/I-20.pdf
- What's New in Colorectal Cancer Research and Treatment?(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_6X_Whats_new_in_colon_and_rectum_cancer_research_and_treatment.asp?rnav=cri
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
- Article: The latest developments in colon cancer surgery. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=19370799&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Meta-analysis of defunctioning stomas in low anterior resection for rectal... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=19358171&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: [Current topics on colonic cancer] - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=19338097&tool=MedlinePlus
- Colorectal Cancer -- see more articles - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=(colonic+neoplasms[majr]+OR+rectal+neoplasms[majr:noexp])+NOT+colonic+polyps[majr]+AND+(jsubsetk[text]+OR+patient+education+handout[pt]+OR+review[pt]+OR+guideline[pt]+OR+clinical+trial[pt])+AND+english[la]+AND+humans[mh]+NOT+(letter[pt]+OR+editorial[pt]+OR+case+reports[pt])&doptcmdl=summary&cmd_current=Limits&pmfilter_EDatLimit=last+1+Year&tool=MedlinePlus
- Colorectal (Colon) Cancer: Glossary(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/colorectal/glossary/
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Dictionary of Cancer Terms(National Cancer Institute) - http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary/
- American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy: Find a Doctor(American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy) - http://www.asge.org/Apps/FindADoctor/search.aspx
- Find an Oncologist(American Society of Clinical Oncology) - http://www.cancer.net/patient/Diagnosis+and+Treatment/Finding+Quality+Care/Find+an+Oncologist/Find+an+Oncologist+Database
- American Cancer Society - http://www.cancer.org/
- American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons - http://www.fascrs.org/
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National Cancer Institute - http://www.cancer.gov/
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National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse - http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/
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Cancer of the Colon and Rectum(National Cancer Institute) - http://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/colorect.html
- Colorectal Cancer Incidence Trends(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/colorectal/statistics/trends.htm
- What Are the Key Statistics for Colon and Rectum Cancer?(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_1X_What_are_the_key_statistics_for_colon_and_rectum_cancer.asp
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6 Common Cancers - Colorectal Cancer - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/magazine/issues/spring07/articles/spring07pg11.html
- What Women Need to Know about Colon Cancer Screening(American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy) - http://www.asge.org/PatientInfoIndex.aspx?id=374
- Anal and Rectal Diseases - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/analandrectaldiseases.html
- Anal Cancer - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/analcancer.html
- Colonic Diseases - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/colonicdiseases.html
- Colonic Polyps - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/colonicpolyps.html
- Colonoscopy - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/colonoscopy.html
- Cancers - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/cancers.html
- Digestive System - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/digestivesystem.html
The primary NIH organization for research on Colorectal Cancer is the National Cancer Institute - http://www.nci.nih.gov/
Colorectal Cancer - Multiple Languages - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/languages/colorectalcancer.html