Colorectal cancer — cancer of the colon or rectum — is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States for both men and women combined.

- All forms of cancer cause cells in the body to change and grow out of control.
- Most cancer cells form a lump or mass called a tumor.  The tumor can invade and destroy healthy tissue.
- Not all tumors are cancer.
- Non cancerous tumors are called benign.
- Benign tumors do not grow and spread the way cancer does.
- Colorectal cancer begins in the colon or rectum.
- The colon connects the small intestine to the rectum.
- Colorectal cancer is a relatively slow-growing disease.
- Colorectal cancer often starts as a pre-cancerous polyp.
- Polyps can be detected through testing and removed.