A Comprehensive Guide to the Stages of Colon Cancer

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Overview of Colon Cancer

Colorectal cancer, also known as colon cancer, occurs when there is abnormal cell growth in the colon or rectum. These cells, called polyps, may not become cancerous at all and instead just hang out in your colon without causing any trouble. The problem is that there’s no way to determine which polyps will become cancerous.

Doctors and other health care professionals urge screening for colon cancer because when it’s caught early, this type of cancer has a relatively high survival rate. When colon cancer spreads or metastasizes, it typically goes to the kidneys and liver, but it occasionally reaches into the bones as well.

How Common is Colon and Rectal Cancer?

Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in the US, outside skin cancer. Americans have almost a 25% chance of developing colon cancer during their lifetimes. It’s important to understand more about the risks, diagnoses, stages, and treatments of the disease.

Stages of Colon Cancer

Colon cancer is defined by stages, although there are variations within the individual stages. The lower the stage number, the more contained the cancer. Treatment can range from single surgery to remove cancerous polyps to surgery plus courses of chemotherapy, radiation, or immunotherapy.

Symptoms and Diagnosis of Colon Cancer

The early signs of colon cancer are subtle and easy to blame on bowel issues. These symptoms are easy to ignore, which is why many people aren’t diagnosed until the late stages. Early detection through screenings is certainly the best way to find cancer cells.

If your doctor suspects colon cancer, they will schedule a series of tests to determine if you have the disease, confirm a diagnosis, and then plan the best course of treatment.

Risk Factors for Colon Cancer

There are some risk factors for bowel cancer. If you have any of these, you should have regular screenings. Luckily, as with some other cancers, there are several risk factors you can control. Obesity, smoking cigarettes, and having more than three alcoholic drinks per day can heighten your risk of colon cancer. Changing these lifestyle factors can help reduce your risk of developing bowel cancer.

Don’t wait until it’s too late. Schedule a screening for colon cancer today and take control of your health.