Understanding The Colon Cancer Stages
When you acquire an illness, one of the first things you want to know is how
serious it is. In the case of colon cancer, doctors use a process called staging,
based on finding out whether the cancer has spread in the colon alone or to
other parts of the body surrounding it. The following information about colon
cancer stages will aid you in understanding how the appropriate treatment for
your diagnosis is chosen.
It is important to catch colon cancer at an early stage as this increases the
chances of recovery and healing. It is thus advised that you go for colon cancer
screening regularly if you exhibit the symptoms or are in the high-risk group.
The following colon cancer stages provide a view of how serious your illness
might be, and what you can best do about it.
- Stage 0—This is the initial stage and is also known as carcinoma
in situ: ‘carcinoma’, referring to the cancer that is born in
the epithelial tissue and ‘situ’, meaning primary position or
site. The cancer is originated only in the innermost lining of the colon.
Recommended treatment for this stage is typically by polypectomy or the local
removal of the tumor together with a tiny mass of adjoining tissue. A more
comprehensive surgery may also be performed if the tumor is larger. This involves
the process of anastomosis.
- Stage I—The cancer has already spread further than the innermost
lining of the colon but only up to the second and third layers of its wall,
and has not yet spread on its outer surface. This stage is also known as Dukes’
A colon cancer. Customary treatment includes surgery for removal of the tumor
including a tiny mass of tissue. Further medications are usually not necessary
but elimination of all of the cancer provides a greater possibility of alleviation.
Stage I colon cancer has a 93-95% 5-year survival rate.
- Stage II—Otherwise known as Dukes’ B colon cancer,
the tumors on this stage are larger and stretches out through the colon’s
muscular wall to the surrounding tissues but not in the lymph nodes. Regular
medication involves resection surgery of the cancer including the neighboring
tissues. The patient may also have a trial of adjuvant immunotherapy, radiation
or chemotherapy. The 5-year survival rate plunges to 60-78%.
- Stage III—This is the stage where the cancer has reached
an alarmingly dangerous condition because it has spread on the colon’s
outer surface and to a minimum of three lymph nodes or more. Also known as
Dukes’ C colon cancer, the risk of this stage is high and recurrences
are greatly possible. Tumors lining the colon wall are categorized as Dukes
Stage C1 while those that have developed through the colon wall and have spread
are known as Dukes stage C2. Recommended treatment involves surgery to take
away the tumor and all infected lymph nodes as well if possible. Instead of
individual receipt, a combination of radiation and chemotherapy may be administered
after the surgery in order to heighten the chances of survival lesser probability
of recurrences. A percentage of about 64% is the chance for a 5-year survival
rate.
- Stage IV—Also called as Dukes’ D colon cancer, this
is when the cancer has spread to other body parts like the liver or the lungs.
Colon cancer chemotherapy and radiation may be given in order to ease symptoms.
Surgical resection may also be performed if necessary to remove the tumor
and the parts where the cancer has spread. There is only a 3-8% chance for
a 5-year survival rate.
There are some instances where there is a recurrence of colon cancer and is
most likely for patients of advanced stages. Regular checkups shall be done
to treat any recurrent cancer as early as possible.
Colon Cancer
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