Colorectal cancer

What is colorectal cancer?

The colon and the rectum are the final sections of the digestive tract and are often referred to as the bowel¹
Colorectal cancer is a general term for cancer that begins in either the colon or the rectum¹

Types of colorectal cancer

There are several types of colorectal cancer, which are named after the cells in which they start²
Over 95% of colorectal cases are of a type known as adenocarcinoma^1,2
Other, far less common, types include squamous cell cancers, carcinoid tumours, sarcomas, gastrointestinal stromal tumours, and lymphomas of the digestive system^1,2

Who gets colorectal cancer?

Colorectal cancer mostly affects people over the age of 60 years^3,4
Obesity, smoking tobacco and drinking alcohol, a diet high in processed meats, and physical inactivity may increase the risk of developing colorectal cancer⁴
People with a close family history of colorectal cancer are more likely to get it themselves^3,4
Suffering from a bowel condition such as Crohn disease or irritable bowel syndrome increases your risk of colorectal cancer^3,4
It is the 3rd most common cancer worldwide⁵
1.4 million new cases were diagnosed worldwide in 2012⁵

Screening, detection, and diagnosis

Screening using methods such as stool tests and sigmoidoscopy can detect colorectal cancer early ^6,7
The first tests used to diagnose colorectal cancer are digital rectal examination and sigmoidoscopy; a biopsy may be taken during the sigmoidoscopy procedure⁸
More extensive tests such as colonoscopy and CT colonography may be used; a biopsy may also be taken during the colonoscopy procedure⁸

Patient guidelines

A patient guideline is a document containing information for patients and their families about their disease and the treatment options available to them

Click here to see the European patient guideline on your condition⁹

Local support groups

Contacting a support group may help you during diagnosis and treatment and afterwards

Infographics

The road to hope¹⁰

Click here for information on the incidence of colorectal cancer in Europe¹¹