Colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer, also known as colon cancer, rectal cancer, or bowel cancer, is a cancer in the colon or rectum (parts of the large intestine), or in the appendix. Genetic analysis shows that essentially colon and rectal tumours are genetically the same cancer. Symptoms of colorectal cancer typically include rectal bleeding and anemia which are sometimes associated with weight loss and changes in bowel habits (defecation pattern). The term bowel cancer and rectal cancer are names for the same thing, and all of them are colorectal cancer.

It is estimated that, worldwide, 1.23 million new cases of colorectal cancer are clinically diagnosed and that it kills 608,000 people per year.Colorectal Cancer Incidence, Mortality and Prevalence Worldwide in 2008 — Summary. Available from: Ferlay J, Shin HR, Bray F, Forman D, Mathers C, Parkin DM. (2010)
GLOBOCAN 2008 v2.0, Cancer Incidence and Mortality Worldwide: IARC CancerBase No. 10 [Internet].
Lyon, France: International Agency for Research on Cancer.  Accessed on 11 Oct 2012.


 Related pages  
 Crohn's disease
 Appendicitis 

References

Category:Medicine
Category:Cancer
C
Category:Diseases and disorders of the digestive system
Category:Gastroenterology