{"id":287237,"date":"2026-08-26T11:39:39","date_gmt":"2026-08-26T11:39:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pharmeasy.in\/blog\/?p=287237"},"modified":"2026-08-26T11:39:47","modified_gmt":"2026-08-26T11:39:47","slug":"cancer-care-bowel-cancer-colorectal-cancer-meaning-symptoms-diagnosis-treatment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pharmeasy.in\/blog\/cancer-care-bowel-cancer-colorectal-cancer-meaning-symptoms-diagnosis-treatment\/","title":{"rendered":"Bowel Cancer (Colorectal Cancer): Meaning, Symptoms, Diagnosis & Treatment\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n<\/head>

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Table of Contents<\/p>\nToggle<\/span>

Introduction<\/a><\/li>
\u202fWhat Is Bowel Cancer (Colorectal Cancer)?<\/a><\/li>
Types of Bowel Cancer<\/a><\/li>
Stages of Bowel Cancer<\/a><\/li>
Symptoms of Bowel Cancer<\/a><\/li>
Causes of Bowel Cancer<\/a><\/li>
Risk Factors<\/a><\/li>
Diagnosis<\/a><\/li>
Bowel Cancer Treatment Options<\/a><\/li>
How to Prevent Bowel Cancer?<\/a><\/li>
When to Consult a Doctor?<\/a><\/li>
Conclusion<\/a><\/li>
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)<\/a><\/li>
References<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n \n <\/span>\n $\"Join$ \n <\/a>\n
<\/span>Introduction<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\nHave you ever noticed changes in your bowel habits, blood in your stool, unexplained abdominal discomfort, or ongoing tiredness and wondered if it could be bowel cancer? These symptoms can have many causes and may occur with a number of benign (non-cancerous) diseases, but it is important not to ignore them when they persist ^{1<\/sup><\/a>. This article explains everything you should know about bowel cancer in a simple and easy-to-understand way.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n}
<\/span>\u202fWhat Is Bowel Cancer (Colorectal Cancer)?<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\nLarge bowel cancer, also called colorectal cancer, is a type of cancer that develops in the large intestine ^{1<\/sup><\/a>. The large intestine includes parts like the colon and rectum, which help the body process waste before it leaves the body}^{2<\/sup><\/a>. Bowel cancer usually begins when abnormal cells in the inner lining of the bowel (intestine) grow and multiply in an uncontrolled manner. Over time, these cells can form a growth called a tumour and may spread to other parts of the body if not treated}^{1<\/sup><\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n}
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Did You Know?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Bowel cancer ranks third in the most common types of cancer worldwide, making up about one in every 10 cancer cases ^{3<\/sup><\/a>.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n}
In 2022, around 1.9 million people worldwide were newly diagnosed with colorectal cancer ^{3<\/sup><\/a>.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n}
In India, it ranked fourth for cancer incidence in both sexes in 2022, with 64,863 new cases and 38,367 deaths ^{4<\/sup><\/a>.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n}
Although colorectal cancer is more common among older adults, it can also affect younger people.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Many people might not have any symptoms in the early stages of bowel cancer ^{4<\/sup><\/a>.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n}
<\/span>Types of Bowel Cancer<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The different types of bowel or colorectal cancers include:\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Adenocarcinoma: <\/strong>This is the most common type of bowel cancer. It starts in the gland cells that produce mucus and other fluids in the lining of the colon or rectum.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Neuroendocrine Tumours:<\/strong> These cancers develop from specialised cells called neuroendocrine cells. They can occur in different parts of the large intestine.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Squamous Cell Carcinoma: <\/strong>This is a very rare form of colorectal cancer that develops from squamous cells, the cells that form the lining of the intestine^{5<\/sup><\/a>.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n}
Lymphoma:<\/strong> Lymphoma is a cancer that begins in lymphatic tissue. In some cases, it can also occur within the bowel^{5<\/sup><\/a>^,<\/sup>}^{6<\/sup><\/a>.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n}
Sarcomas:<\/strong> These are the uncommon cancers that develop from the cells of the body\u2019s supporting tissues, such as muscle, bone, connective tissue, or blood vessels. Most common bowel sarcoma is leiomyosarcoma, which begins in the smooth muscle tissue of the digestive tract. A rare type of sarcoma is a gastrointestinal stromal tumour (GIST), which can develop anywhere along the digestive system and is rare in the large bowel^{5<\/sup><\/a>.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n}
<\/span>Stages of Bowel Cancer<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The stage of bowel cancer describes how far the cancer has grown or spread. Bowel cancer is generally divided into Stages 0 to IV:\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Stage 0: <\/strong>Abnormal or cancerous-looking cells are limited to the innermost lining of the bowel (also known as the mucosa). They have not spread deep into the bowel wall. This is also called carcinoma in situ.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Stage I (or 1):<\/strong> The cancer has grown beyond the innermost lining and into the muscle wall but has not reached the nearby lymph nodes or any organs.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Stage II (or 2):<\/strong> The cancer has grown through the bowel wall and may have reached the nearby tissues or organs. However, it has not spread to the nearby lymph nodes or other parts of the body.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Stage III (or 3):<\/strong> The cancer has spread through the bowel wall to nearby organs or tissues and nearby lymph nodes. However, it has not spread to the distant body parts.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Stage IV (or 4):<\/strong> The cancer has moved beyond the bowel and reached other organs or tissues in the body. It may have spread to areas such as the liver or lungs. This spread from its original site to another part of the body is known as metastasis. The cancer cells in these new areas are still colorectal cancer cells, even though they are found in a different organ^{7<\/sup><\/a>.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>}
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