This type of cancer strikes approximately 1 American in 20 at some point in life. The colon occupies the upper 5 or 6 feet of the large bowel, and the rectum, the last 6 to 8 inches. In this part of the digestive tract, the last residues of digested food are stripped of liquid and formed into stool. Like all cancers, the disease is the result of unrestrained multiplication of cells.
Normal cells divide in a planned way, creating more cells only when needed.
Cancerous cells grow and divide without control or order, often making excess tissue that becomes a tumor. Cancer cells may grow into nearby healthy tissue, or they may break away from the tumor and travel through the blood stream or lymphatic system to other parts of the body. Causes Scientists still do not know exactly what triggers colon cancer. A condition called polyposis, in which hundreds of polyps develop in the large intestine, will almost certainly lead to cancer if left untreated. The fiber found in foods such as cereals, fruits, and vegetables appears to have a protective effect.