Colon Cancer Survival Rate

The survival rate of any form of cancer depends on how early it is detected and in what stage it is detected. This includes colon cancer. Medical professionals cannot stress enough the importance that early detection plays in the treatment and curability of colon cancer, or any other form of cancer.

The earlier you can detect this disease, the better the prognosis will be. Colon cancer is highly treatable and curable if found in the earlier stages. If you suspect that you are experiencing any of the signs or symptoms of this disease, you need to contact your physician immediately to schedule an appointment.

If you are in any of the risk categories for developing colon cancer and have never received an exam, you need to contact your physician immediately even if you are not experiencing any of the signs or symptoms. This is considered to be a preventative measure.

It All Depends On the Stages
The survival rate of colon cancer patients depends on what stage the cancer is in. Stage 0 and Stage 1 have the highest survival rate because they are the earlier stages and can easily be treated. The prognosis for these stages is above 90% for a five-year survival rate. In these stages, the cancer is caught in the exact place where it has started (Stage 0) or it is only affecting several layers of the colon wall (Stage I).

Stage II colon cancer still has a 50% to 85% chance of a five-year survival rate. In this stage, the cancer is usually now affecting the muscular layer of the colon wall or (depending upon the stage rating system used) could possibly be affecting less than three lymph nodes that lie near the outside of the colon.

Stage III of this cancer has anywhere from a 20% to 50% chance of a five-year survival rate. This stage of cancer, by the TNM staging system, has spread through the colon wall and is now affecting nearby lymph nodes and organs. By the new staging system, the cancer is affecting more than four lymph nodes. The way the disease spreads makes treatment harder and therefore reduces the survival rate.

Stage IV colon cancer is the latest stage, no matter what system of staging is being used. In this stage, the cancer has usually spread to other locations in the body. These usually include the liver and the lungs. At this level, there is usually less than a 10% chance of a five-year survival rate; however, because patients are different and cancer is different in each patient, some studies show that depending upon the masses and the areas that are infected, some patients can have anywhere from a 20% to 30% chance of a five-year survival rate.

You can now see why early detection is so important. Contact your physician if you feel that you are experiencing any of the signs or symptoms of this disease or if you fall into any of the risk categories. It is best if you schedule a regular exam to help your chances of early detection.

Go to the new Prostate Cancer Community to get your free ebooks on Prostate Cancer at Colon Cancer Survival Rate [http://prostatecancercommunity.com/]. The new Prostate Cancer Community also has information on Colon Cancer Survival [http://prostatecancercommunity.com/] along with a lot of other free information. Come by our new Prostate Cancer Community site today for free ebooks and other free information that can help you today.

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Radical Prostatectomy Explained

Radical prostatectomy is a surgery to remove the whole prostate gland and the nearby lymph nodes.

This surgery is performed under under general anesthesia.

After the surgeon removes the prostate gland, he or she will insert a catheter (a narrow rubber tube) through the penis into the bladder to carry urine out of the body until about 2-3 weeks after your surgery.

Are There Health Risks Involved in Radical Prostatectomy?

• The short-term risks of this surgery are low IF you are in good health. That said any surgery that involves anesthesia carries risks.
• You will most likely have to remain in the hospital for 2 to 3 days after your surgery and your catheter will be left in place for 2 to 3 weeks.
• You should be ak to go back to work after about 4 weeks.
• The majority of men don't experience severe pain with this surgery and most regain bladder control a few weeks to several months after their Radical Prostatectomy surgery.The main advantage of Radical Prostatectomy surgery is that it often offers men the most certain treatment. That is, if all of your prostate cancer is removed during your surgery, you are probably cured.

Also, the surgery provides your doctor with accurate information about how advanced your cancer is, since the nearby lymph nodes are taken out along with the tumor.

Radical Prostatectomy Surgery Does Have Risks and Complications.

• You could lose a lot of blood during this surgery.

You might want to talk to your doctor about saving 2 units of your own blood in case you need a transfusion.

The two main risks of this surgery (and the ones most men worry about) are:

1. You may develop incontinence (lack of bladder control)

2. You may become impotent (lose your ability to get or keep an erection long enough to have sex).

Luckily, only a very low percentage of men have severe incontinence after radical prostatectomy.

About 35% of men will experience a little accidental leakage of urine during:

• Heavy Lifting
• Coughing
• And Laughing.

And Impotence...

Well, the chance of impotence decreases if your surgeon is able to avoid cutting the nerves. This may not be possible if your tumor is large.

Your current age and the degree of your sexual function BEFORE you have your Radical Prostatectomy surgery are also important things to consider.

For instance, men under 50 years old when they have Radical Prostatectomy surgery, are likely to regain their sexual function. Those older than 70 years are more likely to lose their sexual function.

IMPORTANT: Bear in mind that, even if the nerves are cut, feeling in your penis and orgasm remain normal.

Only your ability to get a rigid penis for sexual intercourse is lost.

But even there, it is not all gloom and doom. There are numerous medicines and devices that can help make the penis rigid.

One thing you should definitely do is to find out everything you can about getting and maintaining a healthy prostate naturally - without drugs.

You can read more information about Radical Prostatectomy along with DOZENS of other prostate health tips at my website: http://www.ProstateSecretsReport.com where you can also see my own shocking prostate story on video

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