What is colorectal cancer? · Stage 0. Also known as carcinoma in situ, in this stage abnormal cells are only in the inner lining of the colon or rectum. · Stage 1. The ...Colorectal(Colon)CancerMedicallyreviewedbyYaminiRanchod,Ph.D.,M.S.—WrittenbyCarmellaWintandJenniferNelson—UpdatedonAugust21,2020SymptomsTypesCausesRiskfactorsDiagnosisTreatmentSurvivalratesPreventionOutlookWeincludeproductswethinkareusefulforourreaders.Ifyoubuythroughlinksonthispage,wemayearnasmallcommission.Here’sourprocess.Whatiscolorectalcancer?Colorectalcancerisacancerthatstartsinthecolon(largeintestine)orrectum.Bothoftheseorgansareinthelowerportionofyourdigestivesystem.Therectumisattheendofthecolon.TheAmericanCancerSociety(ACS)estimatesthatabout1in23menand1in25womenwilldevelopcolorectalcancerduringtheirlifetime.Yourdoctormayusestagingasaguidelinetofigureouthowfaralongthecanceris.It’simportantforyourdoctortoknowthestageofthecancersotheycancomeupwiththebesttreatmentplanforyouandgiveyouanestimateofyourlong-termoutlook.Stage0colorectalcanceristheearlieststage,andstage4isthemostadvancedstage:Stage0.Alsoknownascarcinomainsitu,inthisstageabnormalcellsareonlyintheinnerliningofthecolonorrectum.Stage1.Thecancerhaspenetratedthelining,ormucosa,ofthecolonorrectumandmayhavegrownintothemusclelayer.Ithasn’tspreadtonearbylymphnodesortootherpartsofthebody.Stage2.Thecancerhasspreadtothewallsofthecolonorrectumorthroughthewallstonearbytissuesbuthasn’taffectedthelymphnodes.Stage3.Thecancerhasmovedtothelymphnodesbutnottootherpartsofthebody.Stage4.Thecancerhasspreadtootherdistantorgans,suchastheliverorlungs.Whatarethesymptomsofcolorectalcancer?Colorectalcancermaynotpresentwithanysymptoms,especiallyintheearlystages.Ifyoudoexperiencesymptomsduringtheearlystages,theymayinclude:constipationdiarrheachangesinstoolcolorchangesinstoolshape,suchasnarrowedstoolbloodinthestoolbleedingfromtherectumexcessivegasabdominalcrampsabdominalpainIfyounoticeanyofthesesymptoms,makeanappointmentwithyourdoctortodiscussgettingacolorectalcance