Colorectal Cancer, also known as bowel cancer, is a cancer of the large bowel (colon) and back passage (rectum). In most instances Colorectal Cancer is thought to develop from small mushroom shaped growths called polyps which can form in the lining of the colon or rectum.

If a polyp does develop into a tumour, and if it is detected at an early stage, it can often be removed. However, there are often no initial symptoms and the cancer may have spread to other parts of the body before it is detected. When the cancer has spread to other parts of the body it is then called advanced, or metastatic Colorectal Cancer.