Glossary Q

Questions and answers about colorectal cancer

Q: What is colorectal cancer?
A: Cancer is an abnormal and uncontrolled growth of cells in the body. "Colorectal" refers to the colon and rectum, which together make up the large intestine. Colorectal cancer can originate anywhere in the large intestines. The majority of colorectal cancers develop first as polyps, abnormal growths inside the colon or rectum that may become cancerous.

Q: What causes colorectal cancer?
A: The exact cause of most colorectal cancers is not yet known, however research has established that approximately 75% of colorectal cancers occur in people with no known risk factors. Risk factors that may increase a person's risk of developing colorectal cancer include

• A personal or family history of colorectal polyps or colorectal cancer, or

• Inflammatory bowel disease (Ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease), or

• Genetic syndromes such as familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) or hereditary nonpolyposis colon cancer (HNPCC). (Just 5% of colorectal cancers are linked to these genetic syndromes.)