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Colon Cancer
Alternate Names : Cancer - Colon, Colorectal Cancer
Definition
The colon and rectum are part of the large intestine (large bowel). Colon and rectum cancers, which are sometimes referred to together as "colorectal cancer," arise from the lining of the large intestine. (When cancer arises from the lining of an organ like the large intestine, it is called a carcinoma.)
Other types of colon cancer are rare, and include lymphoma, carcinoid tumors, melanoma, and sarcomas. Use of the term "colon cancer" for the rest of this article refers to colon "carcinoma" and not the other, rare types of colon cancer.
Pictures & Images
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Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors
There are over 130,000 cases of colorectal cancer diagnosed in the United States each year, and over 50,000 deaths. Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths. In almost all cases, however, this disease is entirely treatable if caught early by colonoscopy.
There is no single cause for colon cancer. However, almost all colon cancers begin as benign polyps which, over a period of many years, develop into cancers.
Factors that increase the risk of colon cancer are colorectal polyps, cancer elsewhere in the body, a family history of colon cancer, and ulcerative colitis.
Patients with a history of breast cancer have a slightly increased risk of developing colon cancer. Certain genetic syndromes increase the risk of developing colon cancer in affected families.
Dietary factors that have been associated with colon cancer are a high-meat, high-fat, low-fiber diet. However, some studies found that the risk is not reduced when people switch to a high-fiber diet, so the cause of the link is not yet clear.
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Jump to another section
• Definition
• Colon Cancer Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors
• Colon Cancer Symptoms & Signs
• Colon Cancer Prevention
• Colon Cancer Diagnosis & Tests
• Colon Cancer Treatment
• Colon Cancer Prognosis
• Colon Cancer Complications
• Colon Cancer Support Groups
• Calling Your Health Care Provider
• Pictures & Images
Topics that might be of interest to you Diseases & Conditions
• Anemia
• Cancer
• Colorectal Polyps
• Hodgkin's Lymphoma
• Intestinal Obstruction
• Melanoma
• Ulcerative Colitis
Tests & Exams
• Colonoscopy
• Fecal Occult Blood Test (FOBT)
• Flushable Reagent Stool Blood Test
• Sigmoidoscopy
• Stool Guaiac Test
Other Topics
• Abdominal Pain
• Bloody or Tarry Stools
• Cancer - Resources
• Diarrhea
• Fat
• Metastasis
• Weight Loss - Unintentional
Review Date : 2/3/2003
Reviewed By : Robert J. Green, M.D., M.S.C.E., Division of Oncology, Good Samaritan Medical Center, West Palm Beach, FL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
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