Having ulcerative colitis doesn’t mean you will get colorectal cancer, but it does increase your risk.

Ulcerative colitis is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease that affects the lining of the rectum and colon. It can be limited to the rectum or extend throughout the colon. Ulcerative colitis that affects the entire colon is called pancolitis.

The most common symptoms of ulcerative colitis are diarrhea and blood in your...