The second edition of the book on colorectal cancer (colon and rectal cancer) in the Intelligent Patient Guide series, a series of best-selling books for cancer patients and their families. Patients who take an active part in making decisions about their treatment are better able to deal with their illness than are patients who give control to their doctors. Dr. Pezim is the Medical Director of the Pezim Clinic, a gastrointestinal diagnostic and treatment centre in Vancouver. He has been a Consultant to the BC Cancer Agency and an Associate Professor of Surgery and Head of the Section of Colon and Rectal Surgery at the University of British Columbia. Dr. Owen is a Professor in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the University of British Columbia and a Consultant Pathologist at the Vancouver General Hospital and at the BC Cancer Agency. He has long been regarded as one of the most capable gastrointestinal pathologists in North America.