How Does Colon Cancer Spread

Although colon cancer is one of the most preventable of cancers, more often than not it is diagnosed only when it reaches an advanced stage. Colon cancer spreads slowly in four different stages but ‘recurring’ could be the fifth stage.

Stage Zero:

This is the initial stage of colon cancer (colorectal cancer). The cancer merely occupies the lining, of the colon or rectum and is restricted to the tissue bulging from the outside of the organ, known as polyps.

Stage One:

Stage one of colorectal cancer is more complex as it entails a lot more than just occupying the inner lining of the colon. At this point the polyp (i.e. the tissue bulging) has developed into a tumor, and expands into the wall of the rectum or colon. It can be treated by surgically removing the cancerous part of the colon. The five-year survival rate at this stage after successful treatment is about 95 percent.

Stage two:

In the second stage of colon cancer, the cancer spreads further than the colon to the tissue that surrounds the colon but it does not yet spread to the lymph nodes. This process of spreading of cancer from one body part to another is medically termed as metastasis. A resection surgery may also be used to treat this stage of cancer. In this stage, the five-year survival rate of the patient drops considerably to 60 percent.

Stage three:

The third stage is when the cancer which has spread outside the colon and to the lymph nodes located in the area surrounding the colon. In this stage, the treatment needs to be more intensive and aggressive. Surgical removal of the cancerous tumor and chemotherapy may be adopted. Patient’s five year survival rate drastically decreases to 35-59 percent.

Stage four:

The spreading of cancer to other organs in the body like liver or lungs happens in the fourth stage. Apart from chemotherapy and a surgical resection, another surgery to remove additional affected body parts and radiation therapy may be necessary. At this point the five-year survival rate of the patient is as low as eight percent.

Even after successful treatment cancer can return in colon or some other part of the body. This is known as recurrent cancer. Thus regular checkups become necessary in order to catch a recurrent cancer early.

Although if caught in the early stages, colorectal or colon cancer is one of the most curable cancers, in advanced stages it is one of the leading causes of death.

Stage Zero:

Stage One:

Stage two:

Stage three:

Stage four:

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