com. Retrieved on February 27, 2008 at http://www.medicinenet.com/colon_cancer/article.htm Myers, Donna. (2008). "Overview of Colon Cancer Symptoms." About.com: Health. Retrieved on February 27, 2008 at http://coloncancer.about.com/od/cancerprevention/a/Cancer_Symptoms.htm

The colon is part of the body's digestive system, which consists of the esophagus, stomach, the small and the large intestines. The first 6 feet of the large intestine are called the colon or the large bowel while the last 6 inches are the rectum and the anal...

canal.
Blood in stool is not always an indication of colon cancer; it may be the result of hemorrhoids, peptic ulcers or cuts in the anal area.

The connection is not always genetic -- sometimes, cancers within the same family may result from shared exposure to an environmental carcinogen or from diet or lifestyle factors

CEA is a substance produced by some cancer cells; it is sometimes found in high levels in patients with colon and rectal cancer, especially when the disease has spread

Colon Cancer