The Basics
The colon and rectum are parts of the large intestine
What is Colorectal Cancer?
Cancer of the colon or rectum is called colorectal cancer. The colon and rectum are parts of the large intestine.
Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in the United States. At the beginning, colorectal cancer has no signs or symptoms. If undetected and untreated, colorectal cancer can spread to other parts of your body. Many cases can be prevented or cured if they are found early. That’s why it is important to get tested for colorectal cancer.