The colon, or large intestine, is the last portion of your digestive or gastrointestinal (GI) tract. It starts at the cecum, which attaches to the end of the small intestine. The colon consists of a hollow tube about five feet long that: 1) absorbs water and minerals from digested food and 2) contains the rectum, which stores undigested solid waste.

Colorectal Cancer: Cancer of the colon and rectum — called colorectal cancer (CRC) — occurs when a growth on the lining of the colon or rectum has become malignant, or cancerous. Colorectal cancer can be cured, especially when detected early by colonoscopy.

Colon Polyps: Polyps are abnormal growths on the inside lining of the intestine; they vary in size and shape. While most polyps are not cancerous, some may turn into cancer. It is not possible to tell solely by looking at a polyp if it is malignant or potentially malignant. This is why colonoscopy is often used to remove polyps, a technique called a polypectomy.

Constipation: Constipation is infrequency of bowel movements (less than three per week) or excessive straining with bowel movements. Many conditions may result in constipation. Diagnosis may require lab testing, x-rays or procedures.

Crohn's Disease: Crohn's Disease is a chronic inflammatory disease of the ileum (the lower part of the small intestine) and may involve the colon and other parts of the digestive tract. Symptoms include abdominal pain, often following a meal, and diarrhea. Loss of appetite, weight loss, fever and joint pain are also common. Patients may have fissures (cracks) or sores around the anal area, fistulas (abnormal openings from the bowel to the skin) or abscesses. Diagnosis of this disease may require lab tests, x-rays or procedures such as Colonoscopy .

Diverticular Disease: Diverticular Disease begins with the presence of divertula (a little sac of lining that bulges out through the muscle layers of the intestine) which is called diverticulosis. This is not a problem unless it becomes inflamed (diverticulitis) when it may cause such symptoms as severe cramping pain, nausea, constipation, fever, or chills. X-rays or procedures such as Colonoscopy may be needed to diagnose this disease.

Ulcerative Colitis: Ulcerative Colitis is a chronic inflammatory disease of the colon in which symptoms include bloody diarrhea, crampy abdominal pain and severe urgency to move the bowels. Diagnosis may require x-rays as well as procedures such as Sigmoidoscopy or Colonoscopy.