What is colorectal cancer?

What is colorectal cancer?

Colorectal cancer is a malignant tumor that starts in the colon or rectum. The colon and the rectum are parts of the large intestine, which is the lowest part of the body’s digestive system. It’s the most common cancer  in Spain, and  around 32,000 new cases are diagnosed each year. Approximately 20,000 new cases in men and 14,000 in women are diagnosed every year, and it will affect 1 in 20 men and 1 in 30 women before the age of 74 . In Spain, the survival in five years is above the European average, with 64% (the European average is of 57 %).

Most colorectal cancers appear on a polyp existent in the colon mucosa, which evolves into a malignant tumor in certain circumstances.

You can find more information in the website of the Asociación Española contra el cáncer.