The colon is the muscular tubing measuring about 6 foot. It is the organ which connects the small intestine to the rectum. The colon together with rectum (small opening through which stool is passed) is called large intestine. Thus colon is a special organ that processes all the waste materials collected from the food substance. It works on the waste products which is mixed with water content, and empties it on the rectum so that expelling the waste becomes easy for the rectum. The colon is the place where stool is stored in your body until it is expelled out.
The contents of waste particles are sent into the rectum once or twice a day depending on the quantity of content. The rectum is the organ that connects the colon to the anus. It measures about six inches and its main task is to obtain stool from the colon and expel it. This is the portion of the body that makes you feel that you have to evacuate the stool. Rectum also holds the stool until you expel it.
Colon cancer is the formation of cancerous cells in the colon and rectal cancer is the formation of cancer cells in the rectum. When both the organs are affected with cancer, it is together called colorectal cancer. Colon cancer develops when some cells multiply and grow in uncontrolled manner before the older cells die. This eventually forms a tumor and becomes malignant (cancer causing) in few days.
Colon cancer is the 3rd major cause of cancer deaths in the America. It usually develops on the inner wall of the colon or large intestine which then spreads outside the muscular wall and to other parts of the body. Colon cancer is of silent tumor type and will not show any symptoms until the cancer has advanced to 3rd or 4th stage. If detected in early stages, colon cancer can be cured completely.