Cancer cells may form tumors in the colon or rectum, but many colorectal cancer cases begin with polyps growing in the rectum or colon. Not all polyps are cancerous, but doctors may not be able to tell which polyps may cause cancer and which may not, so removing these polyps may be necessary. Detecting colorectal cancer early may increase the chances of successfully treating the disease, so regular checkups and colon or rectum exams may be effective in early detection.

Symptoms of colorectal cancer may include pain in the stomach, blood in the stool, very dark stool, more frequent stool or feeling like the bowels are not completely empty after a bowel movement. Diagnosing colorectal cancer may be done through a colonoscopy.

In a colonoscopy, a doctor is able to see inside of the rectum and colon. The doctor removes any polyps or tissue that may look cancerous or abnormal. The sample tissue and polyps may be examined to determine if the tissue or polyps are cancerous. Other tests may also be used in diagnosing colorectal cancer.

Surgery may be used in removing any cancerous tissue or polyps from the colon or rectum. If detected early, surgery may be very effective in curing the disease.

If the cancer has spread to the colon wall or other parts of the body, chemotherapy or radiation therapy may be necessary to kill any cancer cells. As colorectal cancer may be more common in people 50 years and older, regular exams may help to increase the chances of catching colorectal cancer early. A doctor may be helpful in further discussing treatments, symptoms and exams used to detect the cancer.

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