Colorectal cancer is a disease in which cancer cells grow in either the colon or the rectum. The colon and rectum are parts of the body's digestive system. They remove nutrients from food and store waste until it passes out of the body. The colon and primarily the rectum also absorb water from ingested materials. Normally, the cells in the colon and rectum divide in a regulated manner. If cells keep dividing when new cells are not needed, a mass of tissue called a tumor forms. A tumor can be benign or malignant.

The cause of colon cancer is unknown. ...

Common symptoms of colorectal cancer include: Change in bowel habitsBlood (either bright red or black and tarry) in the stool (feces)Stools that are narrower than usualDiarrhea, constipation, or feeling that the bowel does not empty completelyGeneral abdominal discomfort (frequent gas pains, bloat...

General Guidelines Eat a healthful diet. Exercise regularly. Avoid obesity. Stop smoking. Use alcohol in moderation. Eat a Healthy Diet Diets that are high in fat (particularly fat from animal sources, such as meat) and low in fruits and vegetables increase the risk of colorectal can...

© 2009 Nucleus Medical Media, Inc. The treatment and management of colorectal cancer involves lifestyle changes, medication, chemotherapy, radiation, alternative and complementary therapies, and/or surgery. Depending on your case, the treatment goal may be to remove the cancer or to provide comfort measures if you are in the last stages of cancer. Treatment involves the following: