Definitions of Colorectal Cancer Terms

Abdomen (AB-do-men): The part of the body that contains the stomach, small intestine, colon, rectum, liver, spleen, pancreas, kidneys, appendix, gallbladder, and bladder.

Anus (AY-nus): The opening of the rectum to the outside of the body.

Benign (be-NINE): Not cancer; does not invade surrounding tissue or spread to other parts of the body.

Bowel: Another name for the intestine. There is both a small and a large bowel.

Cancer: A term for the disease in which abnormal cells divide without control. Cancer cells can invade surrounding tissue and spread to other parts of the body through the bloodstream and lymphatic system.

Colectomy (ko-LEK-to-mee): An operation to remove all or part of the colon. In a partial colectomy, the surgeon removes only the cancerous part of the colon and a small amount of healthy tissue.

Colon (KO-lun): The long, coiled, tube-like organ that removes water from digested food. The remaining material, solid waste called stool, moves through the colon to the rectum and leaves the body through the anus. The colon is sometimes called the large intestine or large bowel.

Colonoscopy (ko-lon-OS-ko-pee): An examination in which a doctor looks at the colon through a flexible, lighted instrument called a colonoscope.

Colorectal (ko-lol-Rek-tul): Related to the colon and/or the rectum.

Crohn’s Disease (kronz): a chronic inflammatory bowel disease of unknown origin.

Digital rectal exam: An exam to detect rectal cancer. The doctor inserts a lubricated, gloved finger into the rectum and feels for abnormal areas.

Fecal occult blood test (FEE-kul ok-Kult): A test such as the Hemoccult IIÒ test to check for hidden blood in the stool. (Fecal refers to stool. Occult means hidden)

Fiber: The parts of fruits and vegetables that cannot be digested. Also called bulk or roughage.

Gastroenterologist (GAS-tro-en-ter-OL-o-jist): A doctor that specializes in diagnosing and treating diseases of the digestive system.

Malignant (ma-LIG-nant): Cancerous; can invade nearby tissues and spread to other parts of the body.

Oncologist (on-KOL-o-jist): A doctor who specializes in treating cancer.

Polyp (POL-ip): A mass of tissue that develops on the inside wall of a hollow organ such as the colon.

Rectum: The last 6 to 8 inches of the large intestine. The rectum stores solid waste until it leave the body through the anus.

Sigmoidoscopy (sig-moy-DOS-ko-pee): An examination of the rectum and lower colon using a sigmoidoscope. Also called proctosimoidoscopy or "procto."

Stool : the solid matter discharged in a bowel movement.

Tumor: An abnormal mass of tissue.

Ulcerative Colitis: a chronic, episodic, inflammatory disease of the large intestine and rectum, characterized by profuse watery diarrhea containing varying amounts of blood, mucus, and pus.

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