The Facts
The colon is what we commonly call the last six feet of the intestines, leading from the small intestine to the rectum. The colon is sometimes referred to as the large intestine. The last part of the large intestine is the rectum. Colon and rectal cancer, also called colorectal cancer, is the fourth most common cancer in the United States.
The risk of colorectal cancer increases as a person gets older. After 30, the risk at least doubles with each passing decade. Most doctors start screening at age 50. Men and women are equally at risk.
Screening is crucial because colorectal cancer responds best to treatment if caught early. Treatment is most effective for people with localized colorectal cancer. People who may be at higher risk for colorectal cancer should speak with their doctor to decide on the best screening schedule for them.
The stage of a tumor is usually the best way of knowing its curability. Most cancers are staged or graded according to their size and, above all, the degree to which they have spread to other parts of the body. The stage depends heavily on lymph node involvement. Lymph nodes are bean-shaped concentrations of immune system cells that are found all over the body. They are interconnected by their own network of tubes, the lymphatic system. Cancer often spreads through the lymphatic system to reach other organs. This jumping from one part of the body to another is called metastasis.
In colon cancer, stages I and II represent increasing degrees of penetration of the colon's wall. Stage III cancer has reached the nearby lymph nodes. Stage IV has spread to other parts of the body (metastasized). Recurrent cancer has come back after apparently successful treatment. It often reappears in the liver or lungs instead of the colon.