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.
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