Colon Cancer
Colon Cancer Stages
Colon Cancer Stages
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Colon cancer is evaluated and characterized according to four stages. Each stage defines the extent to which cancer has spread in the colon and rectum or to other parts of the body. The distinctions between stages are based on detailed medical definitions of extent of cancer cells, count of polyps or tumors and damage outside the colon. Treatment decisions are made consistent with research on prognosis within each stage. Stage 0 is the first of the colon cancer stages. Because this represents early detection, patients with Stage 0 colon cancer have very good potential for full recovery. Stage 0 colon cancer is typically found during preventative testing as there are rarely any symptoms to clearly point to early cancer. Some methods of early detection include a fecal occult blood test for blood in the stool, a sigmoidoscopy or partial view of the colon and a colonoscopy which is a full view of the colon. Polyps that are identified in Stage 0 colon cancer are removed. Aggressive treatment of the cancer at this early stage leads to a 93% survival rate five years after detection. Stage II colon cancer is marked by a tumor that pushes out through the wall of the colon but does not involve lymph nodes. Surgical removal of the tumor and damaged area is necessary followed by chemotherapy which may or may not include radiation. Stage II survival rate is 78%. Stage III is consistent with cancer that has already spread out of the colon and into the lymph nodes or to other organs. Treatment options involve surgery to remove the tumor and other cancer cell areas, chemotherapy and possibly radiation as the tumor is large and invasive. The five year survival rate for Stage III colon cancer after treatment is 64%. Stage IV is the most severe type of colon cancer where the cancer has spread outside the colon to the liver, lungs or other organs. As a result the cancer may have damaged these organs so much that portions of them are surgically removed. The size of the tumor is not as significant as the extent to which it affects lymph nodes. Chemotherapy and radiation may be used for treatment. Some oncologists prefer to use a combination of drugs in the chemotherapy to gain maximum impact. The five year survival rate for Stage IV colon cancer is only 8%. Even after treatment, patients with Stage IV colon cancer are more likely to have a recurrence of the disease that with any other of the colon cancer stages. The cancer may recur at the original site or travel to another organ. For two-third of patients, the liver is also invaded by cancer. The only other option for a Stage IV or recurrent cancer patient is to participate in a clinical drug trial, hoping that some new discovery can make a difference in an otherwise bleak survival rate. While there are no guarantees that experimental drugs can help, this may be the only remaining option. |