Reducing the number of deaths from colorectal cancer depends on detecting and removing precancerous polyps, as well as on detecting and treating this cancer in its early stages. The colon and rectum make up the lowest section of the digestive tract. The colon is also called the large bowel or large intestine. It is the last five to six feet of intestine. The last six to eight inches of the colon is the rectum .
Food passes from the stomach to the small intestine, then into the colon.
The food then goes into the rectum, which leads to the anus , the opening at the end of the rectum through which the stool is eliminated. The colon and rectum remove liquids and nutrients from digested food and hold solid waste until it is ready to be expelled. 2 Colorectal Cancer among Hispanics Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in Hispanic men and the second most common cancer in Hispanic women in the United States. These rates indicate the need for Hispanics to access services to prevent, screen, and manage the disease. Research suggests that colorectal cancer is on the decline for the general population, in part due to increased sigmoidoscopic screening and polyp removal, which prevents polyps from progressing to invasive cancer.