Colorectal cancer is cancer that occurs in the colon or rectum. Sometimes it is called colon cancer for short. As the drawing shows, the colon is the large intestine or large bowel. The rectum is the passageway that connects the colon to the anus.
Sometimes abnormal growths, called polyps, form in the colon or rectum. Over time, some polyps may turn into cancer. Screening tests can find polyps so they can be removed before turning into cancer. Screening also helps find colorectal cancer at an early stage when treatment works best.
The treatment most likely to help you depends on your situation, including the location of your cancer, its stage, and your other health concerns. Treatment for colon cancer usually involves surgery to remove cancer. Other treatments, such as radiation therapy and chemotherapy, might also be recommended.
If your cancer is very advanced or your overall health very poor, your surgeon may recommend an operation to relieve a blockage of your colon or other conditions to improve your symptoms. This surgery is not done to cure cancer but instead to relieve signs and symptoms, such as blockage, bleeding, or pain.
In specific cases where cancer has spread only to the liver or lung, but your overall health is otherwise good, your doctor may recommend surgery or other localized treatments to remove cancer. Chemotherapy may be used before or after this type of procedure. This approach provides a chance to be free of cancer over the long term.