A stage four colon cancer or colorectal cancer is when the cancer has spread to other parts of the body. At this stage the cancer generally affects liver, lymph nodes and sometimes even brain and bones. At this level the five-year survival rate of the patient decreases dramatically to eight to fifteen percent. The importance of screening and an early recognition at this point is supreme. The five-year survival rate at this point depends on the location and the organs which have been affected at this stage.
Watch this inspirational video from Tom Howell who had colorectal cancer with Lung Metastases Stage IV:
‘Prevention is better than cure’ holds utmost importance in making sure that one does not end up with fourth stage colon cancer. Although there is no cure for fourth stage colorectal cancer, once diagnosed with fourth stage colon cancer there are many medical treatments that can be used to reduce the symptoms and raise the five-year survival rate. Though even prevention is not fool proof and does not guarantee 100 percent results as people have been known to get forth stage colon cancer without it being discovered till it got to that stage, it is the best bet.
You can try certain preventive measures, for instance changing your lifestyle a little. Avoid smoking or over-indulgence of alcohol. Also a diet low in fiber content and high on fats should be avoided. Regular exercise can also considerably lower the risks. If you have a family history of the disease you should go for regular screening programmes as the symptoms of colon cancer do not manifest themselves until a later stage.
At this stage, apart from chemotherapy and a surgical resection, another surgery to remove additional affected body parts and radiation therapy may be necessary. The treatment is selected based on how much the cancer has spread and which organs have been affected, where had the tumor gone (i.e. to organs such as ovaries, lungs, liver or stomach) and how it is attached to these organs.
A lot of different things can influence colon cancer five-year survival rates. Stage is a chief factor, but tumor position has also been known to impact survival rates. For instance, with each stage the survival rate decreases drastically and at stage four it’s as low as eight to fifteen percent.
However, a little hope still exists. It has been clinically proven that the above mentioned preventive measures can reduce the risk to a great extent. Also, research has shown that regular exercise can supplement the treatment and help in increasing the chances of five-year survival.
