About Ulcerative Colitis and Ulcerative Proctitis Ulcerative colitis (UC) and ulcerative proctitis (UP) are diseases that affect the colon, also called the large intestine. In UC and UP, the lining of the colon walls becomes inflamed and marked by small crater-like holes, or ulcers, that prevent the colon from doing an efficient job of separating nutrients, reabsorbing water, and passing waste. One difference between UC and UP is the area of colon affected. In UC, inflammation and ulcers are found on the lining of the rectum and can extend to include the entire colon. In UP, a form of ulcerative colitis, inflammation is limited to the rectum. The type and severity of symptoms you experience will depend on the amount of colon that is inflamed and the progression of your disease. The most common symptoms associated with mild-to-moderate UC are: diarrhea, constipation, tenesmus, stomach cramps, rectal bleeding, stool coated in blood and/or mucus, mild weight loss and low-grade fever. There are approximately 500,000 Americans with ulcerative colitis. Currently, there is no medicinal cure for ulcerative colitis. Treatment of UC mainly involves the use of medications to relieve symptoms such as inflammation, diarrhea, rectal bleeding, and abdominal pain and permit healing of the colon.