What Are Colorectal Cancers? Is It Different From Colon Cancer?

Not too long ago actor James Van Der Beek announced that he had been diagnosed with colorectal cancer.

"I've been privately dealing with this diagnosis and have been taking steps to resolve it, with the support of my incredible family," he had said in a statement. In a subsequent Instagram post he expressed his intent to leverage his personal medical journey to raise awareness about the disease.

He wrote: "Each year, approximately 2 billion people around the world receive this diagnosis. And I’m one of them. There’s no playbook for how announce these things..."

While to many it seems like another name for colon cancer, the two are actually not the same.

These terms are not interchangeable. While colorectal cancer is the umbrella term for both colon and rectal cancer. As the name also suggests, colon cancers happens only in the colon, but if it is left untreated, it can spread to different organs in your body. The specifics of colon cancer can be complex, however, understanding it could help you identify the unusual symptoms and could lead to prompt actions too.

As per the American Cancer Society, colorectal cancer begins inside the rectal tissues or the colon walls. It presents itself in the earliest stages as small masses, known as polyps. However, it does not mean that all small passes or polyps inside colon are cancerous, some are also benign.

Then how can one know? If a polyp becomes cancerous, it can spread cancer from the inner part of the colon to the lymph nodes or bloodstream. If this happens, cancer can then quickly move throughout the system. There are signs that one can notice, including lower stomach discomfort, losing weight, bloody stools, constipation, and loose stools. These signs are noted as per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

While colon and rectal cancer fall under colorectal cancer, the latter begins when cancerous cells emerge in the rectum. The distinction is important from a medical care giving approach.

Spreading awareness about colorectal cancer is crucial because many people with the condition aren’t even aware they have it. Regular screening tests, like stool tests and colonoscopies, play a vital role in detecting cancer early, reducing the risk of it spreading. If you or someone you know is diagnosed with colorectal or colon cancer, the treatment plan will be tailored to the specific type of cancer and its location relative to other parts of the body.

As per the National Cancer Institute, to stop the spread of either of the cancer, a surgery may be recommended. It may or may not be accompanied with chemotherapy, as it depends on the stage of the disease. Radiation therapy too may be considered, and could be more commonly recommended for rectal cancer, as it helps in reducing the size of the tumor and make it easier to operate on than colon cancers. While chemotherapy may be appropriate for both cancers, the prescribed medications may differ.