Download Colorectal Cancer - Cascade Surgical Oncology

Colorectal Cancer
Colorectal cancer is a malignancy that starts in the colon or the
rectum. These cancers can also be referred to separately as
colon cancer or rectal cancer, depending on where they start.
Colon cancer and rectal cancer have many features in common.
There are some differences in treatment. Most colorectal cancers
develop slowly over several years. Before a cancer develops, a
growth of tissue or tumor usually begins as a non-cancerous
polyp on the inner lining of the colon or rectum. A polyp is a
benign, non-cancerous tumor. Some polyps can change into
cancer but not all do. The chance of changing into a cancer
depends upon the kind of polyp. Adenomatous polyps
(adenomas) are polyps that can change into cancer.
Hyperplastic polyps and inflammatory polyps, in general, are
not pre-cancerous. There are several different kinds of cancer
that can arise in the colon and rectum including:
Adenocarcinomas, Carcinoids, Gastrointestinal stromal
tumors (GISTs), Lymphomas, and Sarcomas. Colorectal
cancers are usually treated with surgery and sometimes
chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and targeted therapy. For more
information look here:
http://www.cancer.org/cancer/colonandrectumcancer/