Colon cancer is cancer that is located in the large intestine. If the cancer is located in the last six inches of your colon then it is called colorectal cancer. Most cases of colon cancer will begin as small clumps of cells or polyps. These polyps can develop into colon cancer over time.
The problem with colon cancer is that it rarely produces symptoms in the early stages. When symptoms do appear it is usually after the cancer has reached an advanced stage and is more difficult to treat.
The symptoms of colon cancer include a change in bowel habits that includes constipation, diarrhea or a change in the consistency of your stool that lasts for a couple of weeks. Abdominal pain with bowel movements and persistent abdominal discomfort.
If you notice any blood in your stool, and if you have an unexplained weight loss, it is important to seek the care of your primary care physician for early diagnosis and treatment.
Your rate of survival from colon cancer depends upon many factors. One of these factors is the stage of colon cancer that you have.
A stage 0 colon cancer means that the cancer has been detected in the earliest stage. It has not moved beyond the inner layer of your colon or rectum. This stage of colon cancer can give you the best prognosis for survival because it has not spread to the other organs of your body.
A stage 1 colon cancer means that it has penetrated the inner layer of your colon or rectum, but it has not spread beyond the wall of the colon or rectum. This is stage can also give you a good prognosis.
A stage 2 colon cancer means the cancer has spread through the wall of the colon or rectum, but it has not reached the nearby lymph nodes. The five year survival rate for a person with stage 2 colon cancer is 72-85%.
A stage 3 colon cancer is when the cancer has spread to the nearby lymph nodes, but it hasn’t affected any of the other organs yet. The five year survival for a person with stage 3 is 44-83%. There are a lot of factors that can determine the survival rate from a stage 3 colon cancer. This is why there is such a large gap in the survival rate range.
A stage 4 colon cancer means that the cancer has spread to other organs of the body. The cancer may now be in your liver, lungs or the lining of your abdominal cavity. The prognosis for stage 4 colon cancer is not good. The five year survival rate for stage 4 is only 8%.
If you have any risk factors for colon cancer it is important that you get routine colon cancer screenings. Eat right and get plenty of exercise. Make the necessary lifestyle changes to reduce your chance of developing colon cancer.
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