Cancer of the colon or rectum is known as colorectal cancer because they both share some common features. The colon is often known as the big intestine or large bowel. The rectum is a tube that runs from the colon to the anus. 

The majority of colon cancers are caused by polyps, which are growths within the colon's inner lining. The likelihood of a polyp turning malignant is determined by factors such as the type of polyp (adenomatous polyps are considered precancerous) and if it contains abnormal cells (called dysplasia).

Chromosomal instability, CpG islan...