The colon is part of the body’s digestive system. The first 6 feet of the large intestine are called the large bowel or colon. As the name suggest, colon cancer refers to cancerous tumors that are located in the colon.

The risk factors for colon cancer include age (50 years or older), a family history of colon cancer, and a history of polyps in the colon. Colon cancer symptoms include a change in bowel habits, irregular bowel movements, general and frequent abdominal discomfort, tiredness and loss of weight.

Treatment options for colon cancer include surgery to rumor the malignant tumor, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. There are also a variety of new treatments being tested, including medications and biologic therapy.