Cancer
Information, Symptoms, Treatments and Resources
Ways to Prevent Colorectal Cancer
Basic Terminology
Basic Terminology
First, a quick definition to clear up confusion: Colon cancer and colorectal cancer aren't quite synonymous, though people often use the terms interchangeably. Your colon is the biggest part of your large intestine, making up the first four to five feet, and the rectum is the last several inches. Colon cancer and rectal cancer behave very similarly, though colon cancer is diagnosed more than twice as often as rectal cancer; the term colorectal cancer effectively combines the two. Treatment varies based on the location of the initial (called primary) tumor, so it's important to know the difference.
By Daniel Halperin, published March 22, 2011. Daniel is a freelance writer based in New York City.
