Your colon at one end and your anus at the other end may affect, or be affected by, your rectal health. Difficulties with your rectum can cause significant discomfort as well as embarrassment, but it’s important to get the help you need. Rectal cancer is a kind of cancer that starts as a growth of cells in the rectum.

Understanding the Context

The rectum is the last several inches of the large intestine. It starts at the end of the final segment of the colon and ends when it reaches the short, narrow passage known as the anus.