Colon cancer vs. rectal cancer: What’s the difference?

Mar 23, 2026

Colorectal cancer, colon cancer and rectal cancer are often lumped together or even used interchangeably, leading to some confusion as to the relationship between these cancer types.

Colorectal cancer has been grabbing headlines in recent years after the deaths of several prominent celebrities from colon or rectal cancer, including Catherine O’Hara, James Van Der Beek, and Chadwick Boseman. Their stories are a powerful reminder of the importance of early detection of these diseases.

Below, we’re spelling out the differences in colon cancer and rectal cancer and explaining how they fit together under the umbrella that is colorectal cancer.

What is colorectal cancer?

Colorectal cancer is the third-most common cancer in the United States. It is cancer that begins in the colon or rectum and can often be prevented with a screening colonoscopy by removing polyps (grape-like growths on the wall of the large intestine, which includes both the colon and rectum) before they become cancerous.

A colon cancer diagnosis or a rectal cancer diagnosis is each considered a colorectal cancer diagnosis.

What is colon cancer?

Colon cancer is a cancer that forms in the tissues of the colon (the longest part of the large intestine). According to the National Institute of Health (NIH), approximately 70% of colorectal cancer cases in the United States originate in the colon.

What is rectal cancer?

Rectal cancer is a cancer that forms in the tissues of the rectum (the last several inches of the large intestine closest to the anus). Approximately 30% of colorectal cases in the United States originate in the rectum, according to the NIH.

Similarities between colon cancer and rectal cancer

The colon and rectum are both parts of the large intestine, and the term “colorectal cancer” can refer to cancer in either or both areas.

Risk factors

Both colon cancer and rectal cancers share several risk factors, such as diet, age and genetics. You are at increased risk for colon cancer and rectal cancer if you:

Symptoms

Colon cancer and rectal cancers also share several symptoms. Talk to a health care provider right away if you experience any of the following symptoms:

Bleeding from the rectum or blood in or on the stool
Unexplained iron-deficiency anemia
Change in bowel movements that lasts more than a few days
Stools that are more narrow than usual
General abdominal problems such as bloating, fullness or a feeling that you need to have a bowel movement that’s not relieved by having one
Persistent abdominal cramps
Unexplained vomiting, diarrhea or constipation
Weight loss for no apparent reason

Your personal and family health histories also factor into your colon cancer and rectal cancer risk. If you have a family history of colon or rectal cancer, especially first-degree relatives such as your sibling, child or parent, you have an increased chance of developing the disease. Additionally, you are at increased risk if you have a personal history of inflammatory bowel disease or Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis.

People between the ages of 50 and 75 are at greater risk of getting colorectal cancer than younger people, but colorectal cancer has been on the rise in younger adults in recent years. Earlier this month, a study from the American Cancer Society showed nearly half of all new colorectal cancer diagnoses are in adults under the age of 65.

You should begin screening at age 45 if you are at average risk for colorectal cancer. If you are at increased risk, you may need to start screening earlier or be screened more often—talk to your health care provider about what’s right for you.

Differences between colon cancer and rectal cancer, and why it’s important for you

Demographics

Statistically, women are more likely to be diagnosed with colon cancer than men, whereas rectal cancer is the opposite.

When men are diagnosed with colon cancer, they are more likely (53%) to develop it at a younger age than women (68 vs. 72 years).

Odds of cancer recurrence

According to the University of Michigan’s Rogel Cancer Center, rectal cancer has about a 20% risk of local recurrence, opposed to about a 2% chance with colon cancer.

“The rectum doesn’t have the same protective outer layer (called the serosa) as the colon, so it’s easier for a tumor to break through and spread locally,” says Dr. Karin Hardiman, surgical director at the Center. “That makes rectal cancer 10 times more likely than colon cancer to come back after treatment where it started.”

Treatment

Treatment for colon cancer is typically more straightforward than treatment for rectal cancer, primarily due to the location of the colon versus the location of the rectum.

The colon is located in a more accessible area, so it is easier to reach in surgical procedures. The rectum, on the other hand, has other critical organs nearby, making treatment more challenging. Rectal cancer can impede essential bodily functions, such as bowel movements and urination, depending on the tumor’s size and proximity to these organs.

Dr. Eric Dozois, a Mayo Clinic colon and rectal surgeon, says if colon cancer is caught early, surgery may be the only treatment that is necessary, but added that rectal cancer treatment may be a different story.

“Our approach to rectal cancer often involves more aggressive treatments that help prevent it from coming back,” he said.

Screening and early detection are key

Regardless of whether cancer is found in the colon or the rectum, the best chance at better health outcomes is detecting it early, before symptoms develop. A colonoscopy is recommended every 10 years beginning at age 45, however there are multiple options when it comes to screening—including some tests that can be done from the comfort of your home.

Your health care provider can discuss which options are available to you.

Learn more about screening recommendations, risk factors, plus signs and symptoms of colorectal cancer.