Understanding colorectal cancer

The term colorectal cancer combines colon and rectal cancer, two parts of the intestine. The first part of the large intestine is called the colon, and the last part refers to the rectum. These two divisions of colorectal cancer are important because they’re often treated differently. Cancers of the colon, for example, may initially be treated through surgery. With cancers of the rectum, physicians may offer treatment long before someone goes to surgery.