Colorectal Cancer

By: CPMC Genetic Counseling Staff
Reviewed by: Dr. Yize Richard Wang, MD, PhD Cooper University Hospital

Colorectal cancer is a cancer that occurs in the lower part of your digestive system: the large intestine (colon) and the last six inches of the colon (rectum). Most colorectal cancers begin as small, non-cancerous (benign) growths called polyps that cause very few, if any, symptoms. Over time, some polyps become cancerous. Colorectal cancer is most common among people over the age of 50. Five percent of men and women will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer at some point in their lifetime¹.

How Common is Colorectal Cancer?

Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer among men and women of all races². Every year, about 140,000 Americans are diagnosed with colorectal cancer, and more than 50,000 people will die from it³.

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Learn more about Colorectal Cancer, from symptoms to understanding your risk, through the links below.