Topic Overview

Is this topic for you?

This topic is about metastatic and recurrent colorectal cancer.

• If you want to learn more about early-stage colorectal cancer, see the topic Colorectal Cancer.
• If you want to learn more about anal cancer, see the topic Anal Cancer.

What is colorectal cancer?

Colorectal cancer happens when cells that are not normal grow in your colon or rectum. These cells grow together and form tumors. This cancer is also called colon cancer or rectal cancer, depending on where the cancer is.

Metastatic cancer is cancer that has spread to other parts of the body. When colon or rectal cancer spreads, it most often spreads to the liver. Sometimes it spreads to the lungs, bones, or other organs in the body.

Colon and rectal cancers often return months or years after treatment. This is called recurrent cancer. If the original cancer was removed before it was able to spread, the chances that it will return are lower.

What causes metastatic or recurrent colorectal cancer?

The exact cause is not known, but the cancer is more likely to spread or come back if it is in a later, more advanced stage when it is first discovered.

Sometimes cancer cells are too small to be found by tests. These cells may continue to grow and show up later as metastatic cancer, even years after being treated.

What are the symptoms?

Some people do not have any symptoms. When they do occur, the most common symptoms are:

• Belly pain, especially gas pains, cramps, or a feeling of fullness.
• Blood in your stool or very dark stools.
• A change in your bowel habits, such as more frequent stools, thinner stools, or a feeling that your bowels are not emptying completely.
• Loss of appetite.
• Losing weight without trying.
• Constant tiredness (fatigue).

If your cancer has spread, you may have other symptoms, depending on where the cancer is. If it has spread to:

• The lymph nodes of your belly, it may cause bloating, a swollen belly, loss of appetite, or a feeling of fullness.
• The liver, it may cause pain on the upper right side of your belly, bloating, loss of appetite, or a feeling of fullness.
• The lungs, it may cause you to cough, spit up blood, or have a hard time breathing.
• The bones, it may cause bone pain, especially in your back, hips, and pelvis.
• The brain, it may cause problems with memory, concentration, balance, or movement.