Colon Cancer, Is It Life-Threatening?

Colon cancer is the uncontrolled growth of cells in the colon or large intestine. It usually affects people after 50 years of age. Cancer can lead to severe medical conditions if not detected on time, including death.

The colon is the last part of the digestive system. The colon receives digested food through its lining called the colon wall or mucosa, which helps absorb water, vitamins, and mineral salts from foods before pushing it towards the rectum when the colon wall has abnormal growths. The colon absorbs water from undigested food, concentrates wastes, and softens stools before pushing them out of the body through the rectum as bowel movements.

Low-grade cancer- tumors are slow-growing, usually nonaggressive 5 to 10 years, and produce few symptoms early on, while some may not cause any symptoms at all.

High-grade colon cancer– tumors proliferate, usually aggressive. Colon cancer is classified as stage 3 when it extends beyond the colon wall. Hence, it can spread quickly into nearby tissues or lymph nodes or even spread to other organs in the body, such as Metastasis.

Stages of colon cancer

Symptoms of colon cancer are: change in bowel habits, rectal bleeding, fatigue, loss of appetite, weakness, nausea, weight loss, etc.

Treatment options depend on the stage. stages are classified as

Stage 0 also known as carcinoma in situ or precancerous condition

Stage 1 localized without spread to other organs

Stage 2 tumors have penetrated more profound than the surface layer but not any significant organ yet

Stage 3 has spread to lymph nodes tissues near the colon wall or reached adjacent organs

. Stage 4 has metastasized to distant organs like the liver, lungs, etc. Treatments for these stages include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and medicines that help kill rapidly growing cells. Patients can live for 6 to 7 years after a colon cancer diagnosis regarding life expectancy.

If it is detected in the early stages two years, survival rates are 80%, while if it is diagnosed in stage 4, only 20% of the patients survive.

Hence cancers should be detected on time through colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy test and treated accordingly.

It is life-threatening when it reaches the fourth stage. However, there are treatments available for cancer that can help you lead an everyday life, even with a diagnosis.

Symptoms include changes in bowel habits, rectal bleeding, fatigue, loss of appetite, weakness, nausea, weight loss, etc.

When colon cancer is detected in the early stages, survival rates are 80%, while if it is diagnosed in stage 4 colon cancer, only 20% of the patients survive. Hence colon cancers should be detected on time through colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy test and treated accordingly.

Colon Cancer, Is It Life-Threatening?

A colon cancer diagnosis can help you lead a normal life, even with a colon cancer diagnosis. With proper treatment options available, recovery after colon cancer can be expected; however, when it comes to life expectancy, colon cancer patients can live for 6 to 7 years after a colon cancer diagnosis.

Hence cancers should be detected on time through colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy test and treated accordingly. Colon Cancer, Is It Life-Threatening?

Symptoms of colon cancer include a change in bowel habits, rectal bleeding, fatigue, loss of appetite, weakness, nausea, weight loss, etc. . Treatment options depend on the stage of colon cancer.

When colon cancer is detected in the early stages, colon cancers survival rates are 80%, while if it is diagnosed in stage 4 cancer, only 20% of the patients survive. Hence cancers should be detected on time through colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy test and treated accordingly.

If cancer is detected in the early stages, it can lead to normal life, even with a cancer diagnosis. With proper treatment options available, recovery can be expected; however, when it comes to life expectancy, patients can live for 6 to 7 years after a cancer diagnosis. Hence it should be detected on time through colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy test and treated accordingly.