Together, the colon and the rectum form the lower part of the intestinal tract.
Colorectal cancer is one of the most common types of cancer in the United States.
It occurs most commonly in people over 50. Both men and women can get colon cancer. Colon cancer has a tendency to run in families, so it is important for people whose parents have had colon cancer to have annual screenings with colonoscopies . If detected early, colorectal cancer is one of the most curable. But if left untreated, it can spread to other areas of the body.