Colorectal Cancer Information
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What Is Colorectal Cancer?
Colorectal cancer is cancer that develops in the tissues of the colon and/or rectum. It may also be referred to as colon cancer if the cancer began in the colon. The colon is the primary portion of the large intestine, which is about 4 to 5 feet long. If the cancer began in rectum, which is the end portion of the large intestine that is several inches long and leads to the anus, it is called rectal cancer or colorectal cancer.
Colorectal cancer is the fourth most common form of cancer in both men and women in the United States. The American Cancer Society estimated that 146,970 people would be diagnosed with colorectal cancer in 2009.
Common Types of Colorectal Cancer
The most common type of colorectal cancer is adenocarcinoma. A cancer of the intestinal gland cells, adenocarcinoma represents more than 95 percent of colon and rectal cancers.
- Mucinous adenocarcinoma is made up of approximately 60 percent mucus. The mucus can cause cancer cells to spread faster and become more aggressive than typical adenocarcinomas.
- Signet ring cell adenocarcinoma is very uncommon. It accounts for about one percent of adenocarcinomas. Named for its appearance under a microscope, signet ring cell adenocarcinoma is typically aggressive and may be more difficult to treat.
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