Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month

Details

Colon cancer is a growth of cells that begins in a part of the large intestine called the colon. The colon is the first and longest part of the large intestine. The large intestine is the last part of the digestive system.  The digestive system breaks down food for the body to use.

Colon cancer typically affects older adults, though it can happen at any age.  It usually begins as small clumps of cells called polyps that form inside the colon.  Polyps generally aren't cancerous, but some can turn into colon cancers over time.

Polyps often don't cause symptoms.  For this reason, doctors recommend regular screening tests to look for polyps in the colon.  Finding and removing polyps helps prevent colon cancer.

If colon cancer develops, many treatments can help control it.  Treatments include surgery, radiation therapy and medicines, such as chemotherapy, targeted therapy and immunotherapy.

Colon cancer is sometimes called colorectal cancer.  This term combines colon cancer and rectal cancer,  which begins in the rectum.