Colon cancer, also known as Colorectal Cancer or Rectal Cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer deaths in the United States. According to the American Cancer Society colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer found in men and women in the United States. It is estimated that this year there will be approximately 108,070 new cases of Colon cancer and 41,000 new cases of rectal cancer in the United States. These cases will result in approximately 49,960 deaths.
Colon Cancer is cancer of the large intestine (colon), which is the lower part of the digestive system; it also includes rectal cancer which is cancer in the last 6 inches of the colon. This is where food is processed to create energy for the body. It is also where the body disposes of solid waste matter. After food is swallowed it is deposited in the stomach where it is broken down. It then travels into the small intestine where it is broken down further and the nutrients are absorbed into the body. The food is then feed into the large intestine (colon) which absorbs more nutrients and water from the food and stores any waste matter. The waste matter then passes through the Rectum, which is the last 6 inches of the colon, before being expelled from the anus. There are several layers of tissues that line the walls of the colon and rectum. It is in these layers of tissues that Colorectal cancer starts. The cancer begins in the inner layer and spreads outwards. The stage of the cancer therefore depends on how deep it extends into these layers. There is no single cause of colon cancer, nearly all colon cancers usually begin as small, benign groups of cells called polyps. These Polyps may be large or small and depending on size produce maybe produce little or no symptoms. These Polyps eventually may develop into cancer.
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