Original source overview
What is colorectal cancer?Colorectal cancer is cancer that develops in the tissues of the colon or rectum. Your colon and rectum are part of your digestive system:
• Your colon is the first and longest part of your large intestine. It absorbs water and some nutrients from foods. It also changes the leftover waste products into stool (poop). • Your rectum is the lower part of your large intestine. It's where your body stores stool.
Cancer that begins in the colon is called colon cancer, and cancer that begins in the rectum is called rectal cancer. Cancer that affects either of these parts may also be called colorectal cancer.
What causes colorectal cancer?Colorectal cancer happens when there are changes in your genetic material (DNA). These changes are also called mutations or variants. Often, the genetic changes that lead to colorectal cancer happen during your lifetime and the exact cause is unknown. But certain genetic changes that raise your risk for colorectal cancer are inherited, meaning that you are born with them.
Besides genetics, other factors, including your lifestyle and the environment, can affect your risk of colorectal cancer.
Who is more likely to develop colorectal cancer?Anyone can get colorectal cancer, but certain factors make you more likely to develop it:
• Being older; your risk of getting colorectal cancer increases as you age. • Having a personal or family history of colorectal cancer. • Having a history of adenomas. Adenomas are colorectal polyps (growths) that look abnormal under a microscope or are 1 centimeter or larger. Adenomas are not cancer, but they can sometimes turn into cancer over time. • Having a genetic syndrome such as familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) or Lynch syndrome (hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer). • Having chronic ulcerative colitis or Crohn disease for 8 years or more. • Having three or more alcoholic drinks per day. • Smoking cigarettes. • Being Black; Black people have an increased risk of colorectal cancer and death from colorectal cancer compared to other races. • Having obesity.
What are the symptoms of colorectal cancer?Colorectal cancer may not always cause symptoms, especially at first. If you do have symptoms, they could include:
• A change in bowel habits that lasts more than a few days, such as:
• Diarrhea • Constipation • Feeling that the bowel does not empty completely • Your stool is narrower or has a different shape than usual
• Blood (either bright red or very dark) in the stool • Frequent gas pains, bloating, fullness, or cramps • Weight loss for no known reason • Fatigue
What is screening for colorectal cancer and who needs it?Because colorectal cancer may not cause symptoms at first, it's important to have screening tests for colorectal cancer. Screening tests look for signs of a disease before you have any symptoms. They can help find cancer early, when it may be easier to treat.
Most experts recommend that start screenings at 45 and continue until at least age 75. People over 75 and those who are at high risk should talk to their providers about how often you need screening and what type of test they should get.
The types of tests include different stool tests and procedures such as colonoscopies and flexible sigmoidoscopy. Talk with your provider about how often you need screening and what type of test you should get.
How is colorectal cancer diagnosed?If you have symptoms that could be caused by colorectal cancer or if your screening test results are abnormal, you may need to have more tests to find out if you have cancer. Possible tests include:
• A physical exam. • A digital rectal exam. For this exam, your provider inserts a lubricated, gloved finger into your rectum to feel for lumps or anything unusual. • The tests that are also used for screening (colonoscopy, stool tests, etc.) and biopsy, if you have not already had them. • Other blood and tissue tests.
What are the treatments for colorectal cancer?Your treatment options usually depend on your age, your general health, how serious the cancer is, and which type of cancer you have.
For colon cancer, your treatment may include one or more of these options:
• Surgery. • Radiofrequency ablation, a procedure that uses radio waves to heat and destroy abnormal cells. The radio waves travel through electrodes (small devices that carry electricity). • Cryosurgery, a procedure in which an extremely cold liquid or an instrument called a cryoprobe is used to freeze and destroy abnormal tissue. • Chemotherapy. • Radiation therapy. • Targeted therapy, which uses drugs or other substances that mainly attack specific cancer cells and cause less harm to normal cells. • Immunotherapy.
For rectal cancer, your treatment may include one or more of these options:
• Surgery. • Radiation therapy. • Chemotherapy. • Active surveillance, which means having regular tests to see if your rectal cancer has changed. If the tests show the cancer is starting to grow, then you will have treatment to try to cure the cancer. • Targeted therapy, which uses drugs or other substances that mainly attack specific cancer cells and cause less harm to normal cells. • Immunotherapy.
Can colorectal cancer be prevented?Avoiding the risk factors that you have control over may help prevent some cancers. That includes:
• Not smoking • Limiting alcohol to under three drinks per day • Managing your weight
There are also other steps you can take to try to prevent colorectal cancer. They include:
• Getting regular colorectal cancer screenings • Having polyps removed before they can become cancerous • Getting regular exercise
Encyclopedic background — Wikipedia
The following selected excerpts provide background on “Colorectal cancer”. The scope here is Colorectal Cancer; it does not establish an individual diagnosis or treatment plan. They are not a substitute for the source overview or current local clinical guidance. Each excerpt below comes from the fixed Wikipedia revision [W1].
Definition and overview [W1]
Colorectal cancer, also known as bowel cancer, colon cancer, intestinal cancer, or rectal cancer, is the development of cancer from the colon or rectum (parts of the large intestine), characterized by the uncontrolled growth of colon cells that can invade or spread to other parts of the body. Signs and symptoms may include blood in the stool, a change in bowel movements, weight loss, abdominal pain, and fatigue. Most colorectal cancers are due to lifestyle factors and genetic disorders. Risk factors include diet, obesity, smoking, and lack of physical activity. Dietary factors that increase the risk include red meat, processed meat, and alcohol. Another risk factor is inflammatory bowel disease, which includes Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Some of the inherited genetic disorders that can cause colorectal cancer include familial adenomatous polyposis and hereditary non-polyposis colon cancer; however, these represent less than 5% of cases. It typically starts as a benign tumor, often in the form of a polyp, which over time becomes cancerous.
Colorectal cancer may be diagnosed by obtaining a sample of the colon during a sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy. This is then followed by medical imaging to determine whether the cancer has spread beyond the colon or is in situ. Screening is effective for preventing and decreasing deaths from colorectal cancer. Colorectal cancer screening is recommended for average-risk adults aged 45-75, as screening effectively prevents and decreases related mortality. During colonoscopy, small polyps may be removed if found. If a large polyp or tumor is found, a biopsy may be performed to check if it is cancerous.
Reading this topic in context
Use “Colorectal Cancer” as a starting point for a focused discussion, rather than treating every statement in the broader encyclopedia article as applying to you. The original source overview and the background excerpts answer different questions: the overview explains the health topic for readers, while the encyclopedia supplies terminology and general context. Keep a record of which questions concern symptoms, a confirmed diagnosis, prevention, or an existing treatment. This helps a healthcare professional address the relevant issue without relying on an internet label.
Questions to take to a professional
1. What do the pathology report and complete staging tests show?
2. Which treatment, surveillance and family-history questions should I discuss with the team?
Evidence, scope and next steps
The health-topic overview is attributed to MedlinePlus / the National Library of Medicine at the original topic link below. Wikipedia [W1] is a secondary background source; its references can support further reading, but their presence is not evidence that WellPrimer has independently reviewed every study. No clinical review, guideline certification or NLM endorsement is claimed. For screening intervals, diagnostic thresholds, pregnancy or child-specific advice and treatment choices, check current guidance in your country with a qualified professional. Do not start, stop or change a prescribed medicine based on encyclopedia excerpts. New or worsening symptoms need appropriate clinical assessment rather than more reading alone.
Attribution and reuse
[W1] Wikipedia contributors, “Colorectal cancer”. Version 1378728609, edited 2026-10-05. Retrieved 2026-10-16. Fixed revision: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Colorectal_cancer&oldid=1378728609. Contributor history: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Colorectal_cancer&action=history. License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/ .
The MedlinePlus health-topic summary retains its original attribution. Wikipedia excerpts and the added compilation/commentary are shared under CC BY-SA 4.0; selections, section ordering and editorial reading prompts have been added. No images are reused. This is an educational compilation, not a clinician-reviewed guideline.