The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved a new drug to treat advanced colorectal cancer. The medication extends the lives of those living with colorectal cancer that has spread to other organs (metastasized) by about 45 days.

For years, it's been thought that colon cancer differed from rectal cancer. After all, they are two different diseases, occurring in two different organs. Right? Recent research has shown that the two diseases may not be different at all.

Cleaning out the colon is one of the things people hate about having a colonoscopy. A new preparation formula is now available for this unpleasant task.

Some cancers can be eliminated, while some can be put into remission. Others can become like chronic diseases that are managed with medication. One researcher sees the latter group growing in the near future.

Inflammatory bowel diseases ( IBD ) such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease are major risk factors for colorectal cancer. Why? Because these diseases cause constant inflammation - something cancer thrives on.

Not too many people even like to think about what's involved in a colonoscopy. This may be why 40-50 percent of folks just skip the colorectal cancer screening.

Finding that your cancer has metastasized can make it hard to stay hopeful, but hard-hitting new treatment for colorectal cancer tumors that have turned up in the liver has shown good results.

Metabolomics is the science of examining the waste products of cells. In other words, it looks at the end products of cell metabolism.

It's certainly unusual, but colorectal cancer does appear in people younger than age 50. You would think that the disease might be gentler in this age group, and you would be wrong. There's a positive twist to this story, though.

Once cancer starts to move, it's hard to take out. A single punch isn't going to knock it out. All is not lost, though. Combination therapies may deliver the blow that starts the count down.