The large intestine is divided into 3 sections;

Appendix and Cecum
Colon
Rectum
The colon is divided into 4 sections in the following order:

Ascending Colon
Transverse Colon
Descending Colon
Sigmoid Colon
The colon is responsible for the absorption of the remaining water and electrolytes from the digested food.

The colon is responsible for the formation of feces and for moving the feces to the rectum.

The rectum serves as a temporary storage location for feces before defecation occurs.

Bowel cancer also known as Colorectal cancer begins with abnormal and uncontrolled growth of cells in the colon or the rectum resulting in the formation of abnormal tissue growths which are called polyps.

These polyps are initially noncancerous which means they grow slowly and do not spread to other parts of the body. However overtime, polyps can become cancerous.

If cancer begins in any section of the colon, it can be classified as colon cancer. If cancer begins in the rectum, it can be classified as rectal cancer.




The most common type of bowel cancer is adenocarcinoma which begins in the cells lining the walls of the colon or the rectum.

SYMPTOMS

Patients with bowel cancer might not experience any symptoms in the early stage of the disease. Patients only begin to experience significant and bothersome symptoms once tumors have grown and become large in the colon or the rectum or once the cancer has spread out of the colon or the rectum. Symptoms may vary among patients.

A change in bowel habits : diarrhea, constipation, or feeling that the bowel does not empty completely
Bright red or very dark blood in the stool
Stools that look narrower or thinner than normal
Discomfort in the abdomen, including frequent gas, bloating, fullness, and cramps
Unexplained and unintentional weight loss
Constant tiredness or fatigue