The colon and rectum are part of the body’s gastrointestinal tract. The colon makes up the first 6 feet of the large intestine, and the rectum makes up the last 6 inches. Cancers of the colon and rectum are typically grouped together as colorectal cancer because they have some characteristics in common, most notably the presence of abnormal growths called polyps. According to the American Cancer Society, an estimated 104,610 new cases of colon cancer and 43,340 cases of rectal…

With cancer, the cells of a part of your body grow out of control. When this occurs with the cells of your colon or rectum, it’s colorectal cancer. Colorectal cancer is an equal-opportunity disease. It affects men and women of all racial and ethnic groups. Aging is a key factor for this disease, so it’s more common in people ages 50 and older. According to the American Cancer Society, colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer diagnosed in both…