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Colorectal cancer starts in the cells of the colon or the rectum. Both the colon and the rectum are
muscular tubes lined with glandular cells. Most colorectal cancers start in the glandular cells.
The colon (known as the large bowel or large intestine) joins the small intestine to the rectum. Each part of
the digestive system plays a different role in processing food. Completely digested food moves from the small
intestine into the colon where water is removed so that the remaining waste (feces) is firm as it leaves the body.
The rectum is the last part of the colon. Waste is stored in the rectum until it leaves the body through the anus
in a bowel movement.
Cancer of the small intestine is very rare, so when people talk about bowel cancer, they usually
mean colorectal cancer. Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer for both men and women in Canada.
Proposed
Screening Guidelines
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