You probably don't use the word "colorectal" very much in your daily life. But if you're facing colorectal cancer, it's important to understand a few terms. The colon and the rectum are actually two different organs.
The colon, also called the large intestine, is a wide muscular tube that starts on your right side and goes all the way around to your left side. Food is already completely digested by the time that it reaches your colon, so the colon's job is just to absorb any water that remains to make solid stool. (If this function isn't working right, you end up with diarrhea).
Read MoreWhat does this all mean to you? Cancer of the colon and rectum are sometimes treated very differently, so ask your doctor where exactly your tumor is. Either way, you can live a normal life even if your entire colon and/or rectum have to be removedit may just change the way you go to the bathroom.
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