Colon, or large intestine, is the final portion of digestive tract in the human body. Cancers affecting this part of the body are known as colon cancers. Alternatively, they are also termed as large bowel cancer or cancer of large intestine. Any part of the colon can get affected by cancer and is called as –
The reason why colon cancers occur is not known completely. Sometimes, healthy cells in the colon continue to divide due to a DNA error, even when new cells are not needed. Generally, colon cancer begins as a small collection of cells called polyps. Initially, these polyps may not be cancerous (benign). Later, these polyps can develop into colon cancers.
In early stages, colon cancer may not cause any symptoms. Also, symptoms of colon cancer vary depending on the location and size of the cancerous polyps. Some early warning signs and symptoms of colon cancer in both, men and women are:
Some factors that may increase the risk of colon cancer include:
Like other cancers, colon cancer progresses through 4 stages. Sooner the diagnosis, better is the treatment approach and faster is the recovery.
Based on the tumor location, involvement in the lymph nodes and spreading, TNM (tumor, node, metastasis) staging of tumor is performed. By staging the colon cancer, your doctor gets a better idea as to –
Next, the doctor combines the TNM report and stages colon cancer either as –
Stage 0 – Cancer at this stage is still at the origin of DNA error or polyp, usually, in the inner surface of the colon. They can safely be treated by removing the causative polyp. Colon polyps are just an outgrowth that is not cancerous yet.
Stage 1 – Here, the cancer has invaded into the muscular portion of colon or rectum. However, the cancer is still benign. Doctors suggest removal of tumor and nearby lymph nodes.
Stage 2 – Stage 2 colon cancer has grown through outer wall of the colon and is slowly spreading into the muscle lining of the abdomen and nearby tissues. However, the cancer has not touched the lymph nodes yet. The treatment usually involves surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy (treatment after surgery aimed at trying to destroy any remaining cancer cells with or without radiation therapy).
Stage 3 – Stage 3A colon cancer marks the spread of cancer into the lymph nodes, the gateway to move into different parts of the body. Through stage 3B and 3C, the cancer progressively spreads through more number of lymph nodes and invades the nearby organs and bowel wall but not far away organs. Treatment options are similar to that of stage 2.
Stage 4 – At this stage, cancer has spread to at least one distant part of the body – such as liver, lungs. The last stage 4B marks the spread of cancer into more than one part of the body.
Once a person is diagnosed with colon cancer, the immediate question that comes to mind is, “what are my chances of survival?”
Survival rate is an estimate that can guide you if you can live through a few years. The percentage of survival rates indicate how many people have lived at least so far after diagnosis. For example, a 5-year survival rate of 90% indicates 9 in 10 cancer patients lived for a minimum 5 years after being diagnosed.
| 5-year survival rate | Colon Cancer | Rectal Cancer |
| Stage 1 | 92% | 87% |
| Stage 2A | 87% | 80% |
| Stage 2B | 63% | 49% |
| Stage 3A | 89% | 84% |
| Stage 3B | 69% | 71% |
| Stage 3C | 53% | 58% |
| Stage 4 | 11% | 12% |
Survival rates for a patient with cancer varies with the stage of cancer he/she is at. As guided by the National Cancer Institute’s SEER database, 92% 5-year survival rate is noted at stage 1 colon cancer. The percentage of 5-year survival rate reduced to 87%, 89% and 11% at stages 2, 3 and 4, respectively. Involvement of nodes as in stages 2B, 3B and 3C reduces the chances of survival to 63%, 69% and 53%, respectively. The trend remains almost same for rectal cancer patients as well.
As mentioned before, the survival rate is just an estimate and applies only in general circumstances. Discuss with your doctor to better understand your situation and to receive individualized prognosis.
There have been exceptions of people living beyond these estimated years with prompt treatment, care and support.
Do not neglect or avoid meeting a doctor if –
The diagnosis of colon cancer is confirmed on the basis of:
Colonoscopy
One of the most commonly performed detection techniques for polyps and colon cancer is colonoscopy. In this technique, the doctor examines the entire colon with the help of a long and flexible tube which has a camera (colonoscope) attached at the end. This helps in detecting any abnormalities in the colon.
Treatment of colon cancer or colorectal cancer requires multimodal approach with state-of-art facilities and well-experienced team of oncologists.
The type of treatment for colon cancer depends largely on the stage of the cancer. Discuss with your oncologist about different treatment options. Generally, there are three primary treatment options: surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation, followed by supportive care. Based upon the disease condition, the oncologist will suggest the best treatment plan. Adhere to instructions from the oncologist to ensure better treatment results.
Surgical removal – Based on the diagnosis, the doctor may decide to remove the colon polyp, colon tumor and lymph node in order to control the growth and spread of cancer. Surgical procedures may also involve the placement of stent to avoid blockade of colon due to cancer.
Your doctor will guide you to choose the best from the available surgical procedures. With advances in cancer therapy and surgery, Yashoda Hospitals performs laproscopy and minimally invasive procedures, colectomy or diverting colostomy so you have better chances at faster recovery.
In case you undergo a surgery to remove tumors and lymph nodes, you will be put on adjuvant chemotherapy to support your body to remove any residue of cancer.
Chemotherapy – It is medicinal therapy for cancer. The doctor will prescribe medicines as soon as the cancer looks abnormal. Other factors that go into deciding on the chemotherapy include – your age, health requirements, and radiation therapy.
In advanced cancer, chemotherapy is necessary with or without surgery. There are chances you may receive chemotherapy before a planned surgery, it is called neoadjuvant chemotherapy.
Radiation therapy – For colon cancer, radiation therapy is not commonly used. However, doctor may recommend radiation therapy –
Other treatment options include ablation, embolization, hepatic artery infusion. They are used when the tumor has spread to liver.
The cost to treat colon cancer may vary based on –
Complexity and stage of cancer
To know more about colon cancer and its treatment, you can request for a call back and our experts will call you and answer all your queries.
Generally, colon cancer screenings are recommended at age 50. However, in people who are more prone to develop colon cancer, screening at a younger age is advisable. Since small polyps may have no or few tell-tale signs, regular screening tests are strongly recommended to identify the polyps so that these can be removed before they turn cancerous.
Adopting a healthy lifestyle can reduce the risk of developing colon cancer. Some of the lifestyle-related modifications are:
To know more about colon cancer and its treatment, you can request for a call back and our experts will call you and answer all your queries.
“The content of this publication has been developed by a third party content providerwho are clinicians and/or medical writers and/or experts. The information contained herein is for educational purpose only and we request you to please consult a Registered Medical Practitioner or Doctor before deciding the appropriate diagnosis and treatment plan.”