What is the colon? The colon is the longest portion of the large intestine, also known as the large bowel. The large intestine is the last part of the digestive tract. It is a tube that is about 5 to 6 feet in length; the first 5 feet make up the colon, which then connects to about 6 inches of rectum, and finally ends with the anus. By the time food reaches the colon (about 3 to 8 hours after eating), the nutrients have been absorbed and the remainder is liquid waste product. The colon's function is to change this liquid waste into solid stool. The stool can spend anywhere from 10 hours to several days in the colon before being expelled through the anus. It has been suggested that the longer stool remains in the colon, the higher the risk for colon cancer, but this has not been proven. What is colon cancer? Colon cancer is malignant tissue that grows in the wall of the colon. The ... read more on Colon Cancer: The Basics
Colorectal Cancer Risks, Prevention, and Testing
Colorectal cancer develops slowly over a long period of time, usually starting out as a small polyp on the inner colon wall. By removing these polyps, it is usually possible to prevent colorectal cancer. Early detection of these colorectal polyps...
Colorectal Cancer Screening
There are approximately 148,000 new cases of colorectal cancer annually in the United States, with approximately 50,000 people who die from the cancer or its complications every year. Over a lifetime, women have a 5% risk of developing colorectal...
Familial Colorectal Cancers - Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (FAP)
Colorectal cancer accounts for 14% of all cancer deaths in the United States. There were an estimated 135,400 new cases and 56,700 deaths in the United States in 2001. Approximately 10 to 15% of these cancers may be caused by genetic abnormalities...
Understanding Your Pathology Report: Colon Cancer
What is a pathology report?
A pathologist is a doctor who specializes in diagnosing diseases by examining tissue from the body. You will probably never meet the pathologist, but samples of your colon tissue, removed during surgery or biopsy, will...
Stage II Colon Cancer: To Treat or Not to Treat?
You would think that deciding whether to have chemotherapy after surgery (adjuvant therapy) in stage II colon cancer would be an easy decision, but in fact, studies have not found a clear answer to this question.
OncoLink Meet the Professor: Weijing Sun, MD discusses developments in colon cancer therapy
= Julia Draznin Matlzman, MD, Senior Editor
WS = Dr. Weijing Sun
Dr. Weijing Sun, Assistant Professor of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, the Director of Upper GI and Pancreatic-biliary-hepatic Cancer Group and the Associate...
Expert answers to common questions about colorectal cancer.
Can hemorrhoids lead to rectal or colon cancer?
Dear OncoLink "Ask the Experts,"
Can hemorrhoids lead to rectal or colon cancer?
Thank you.
James D. Lewis, MD, MSCE, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Senior Scholar at the Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, and Senior Fellow in the Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics at the University of
Laxative Use and Colon and Rectal Cancer
Dear OncoLink "Ask the Experts,"
I've heard that chronic constipation and laxative use is associated with colon and rectal cancer. Is that true?
Thank you.
Li Liu, MD OncoLink Editorial Assistant, responds:
This is an excellent question.
It has long been suggested that low bowel movement frequency, by
Reishi During Treatment for Colorectal Cancer
Dear OncoLink "Ask The Experts," After 6 months of symptoms related to colorectal cancer, my father had a colonoscopy last week and a 2-inch tumor was found at the rectum. Blood test and x-ray results haven't come in yet. A CT scan has been scheduled for this week.
He started taking the Chinese herbal medicine reishi (Ganoderma Lucida) this
Colon, Rectal and Anal Cancer: Frequently Asked Questions
Answers frequently asked questions regarding certain foods, diet, and supplements for those with cancer or undergoing cancer therapy.
Useful External Websites
Colon Cancer AllianceThe Colon Cancer Alliance brings the voice of survivors to battle colorectal cancer through patient support, education, research and advocacy.
Colorectal Cancer Network This organization provides support, education, and...
Catalytic subunit of lipid kinase suppresses colorectal cancers in mice
WESTPORT, Aug 24 (Reuters Health) - Mice lacking the catalytic subunit of the lipid kinase phosphoinositide-3-OH kinase (PI(3)K) spontaneously develop invasive colorectal cancer, suggesting that the protein is a tumor suppressor, researchers report.
...
Children of mothers with colorectal cancer have increased cancer risk
WESTPORT, Aug 28 (Reuters Health) - Children of women with colorectal carcinoma have increased risk of some cancers, suggesting that genetics may play a role, according to Swedish researchers.
Dr. Maria Planck, of Lund University Hospital, and...
Meta-analysis suggests OncoVAX is effective against colon cancer
NEW YORK, Sep 05 (Reuters Health) - A meta-analysis of Intracel's OncoVAX vaccine suggests that the product is an effective adjunct for stage II colon cancer in patients who also undergo surgery, the company said on Thursday.
Intracel presented...



NCI CANCERLIT® Search: Non-polyposis Colon Cancer, Hereditary - October 2001
Motivations and psychosocial impact of genetic testing for HNPCC. Genotype and phenotype of a new 2-bp deletion of hMSH2 at codon 233. Molecular screening for hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer: a prospective, population-based study....
NCI CANCERLIT® Search: Non-polyposis Colon Cancer, Hereditary - September 2001
Table of ContentsCYCLIN D1 as a genetic modifier in hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer.Instabilotyping: comprehensive identification of frameshift mutations caused by coding region microsatellite instability.DNA variants of BAT-25 in...
NCI CANCERLIT® Search: Therapy of Colorectal Cancer - October 2001
Reconstruction of perianal skin defect using a V-Y advancement of bilateral gluteus maximus musculocutaneous flaps: reconstruction The role of irinotecan and oxaliplatin in the treatment of advanced colorectal cancer. Conservative...