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The colon cancer stages are usually closely dependent on how far the disease has spread. The staging process is important for the doctors to to make a decision on choosing and taking the best treatments. And based on how far the spread of the disease, generally there are five stages of this cancer.
You may also like to read about causes of colon cancer and how do you know if you have this disease, before continuing!
You may also like to read about causes of colon cancer and how do you know if you have this disease, before continuing!
Furthermore, sometimes the classification of colon cancer stages is also important for doctors to analyze the effects of the treatment, so they can make an analysis about whether or not the prescribed medicines and the chosen treatment are effective to treat the disease.
Stage 0
This colon cancer stage is also familiar known as very early stage. The innermost lining of the colon is usually the only location where the cancer is found in this stage. And the treatment for this stage may include;
- A treatment (such as polypectomy) to get rid of ‘a small amount of surrounding tissue’ & tumor!
- And resection or a kind of more extensive surgery to get rid of larger colon cancers.
Stage 1 (I)
This stage is also familiar known as Dukes A. In this stage, the spread of tumor is already beyond the inner lining, but the cancer still doesn’t spread to outside or outer of the colon.
Surgery is usually the standard treatment that will be chosen, and patients with Dukes A may not require additional treatments.
According to American Cancer Society, the survival rate (in five years) for patients with this stage is about 93 percent.
Stage 2 (II)
This stage is also often called as ‘Dukes B’ of colon cancer stages. In this level, the cancer usually has not spread in the lymph nodes, but it is more likely to extend through the colon’s muscular wall. The cancers are usually also larger in size than in the Dukes A.
Lymph nodes (small structures that can be found throughout our body) have function to store and produce certain cells that fight infection.
The treatments may include; surgery, and in some cases patients may require chemotherapy or adjuvant immunotherapy! Sometimes, chemotherapy is also chosen by doctor for a precaution of cancer recurrence.
And patients in this stage may have about 78 percent of five-year survival rate.
Stage 3 (III)
It is also familiar called as Dukes C stage. It describes a condition when the cancer has spread outer of the colon, and the cancer also has spread to one or more lymph nodes. And more lymph nodes that get attack will significantly influence the survival rate of patient.
The standard treatments of Dukes C may include; surgery, chemotherapy (usually after surgery), and some patients may also require a kind of treatment with radiation.
And patients in the Duke C stage may have only 64 percent of five-year survival rate!
Stages 4 (IV) or familiar called as Dukes D
In this stage, the spread of cancers have reached to other parts or organs of the body, particularly like lungs or liver. It is usually the worst stage of colon cancer stages, which can only give about 8 percent of five-year survival rate.
The treatments for this stage may include: surgically cancer removal, surgeries to get rid of certain organs where the cancer have spread, chemotherapy, Vectibix with chemotherapy, immunological therapy, and a kind of treatment with radiation.
Note; the diagnosis and treatments of colon cancer are so crucial. All basic information in this article is not intended to replace any doctor’s advice. Discuss more with a doctor to get more detailed information about the stages and treatment of colon cancer!
