What are the 4 stages of colon cancer?

Stage 4 colon cancer is classified into two categories, stage 4A and 4B:

4A stage. This stage indicates that cancer has spread to one distant site, such as the liver or lungs.
4B stage. This most advanced stage of colon cancer indicates cancer has spread to two or more distant sites, such as the lungs and liver.

Also asked, how long can you live with Stage 4 colon cancer?

Stage IV colon cancer has a relative 5-year survival rate of about 14%. This means that about 14% of people with stage IV colon cancer are likely to still be alive 5 years after they are diagnosed. But you're not a number. No one, including your doctor, can tell you exactly how long you'll live.

Subsequently, question is, what are the symptoms of stage 4 colon cancer? When the disease -- at any stage -- causes symptoms, they may include:

Blood (usually dark red or black) in the stool.
Constipation and diarrhea.
Long, thin, pencil-like stools.
Fatigue and weakness.
Abdominal pain or bloating.
Unexplained weight loss.

Also Know, what are the stages of colon cancer?

Stage 0 Colon Cancer

Stage I Colon Cancer. Cancer which has invaded the mucosa and the submucosa is considered stage I colon cancer.
Stage II Colon Cancer. When cancer has spread past the colon wall, but has not affected the lymph nodes, it is considered stage II colon cancer.
Stage III Colon Cancer.
Stage IV Colon Cancer.

What is Stage 4 colon cancer mean?

Stage 4 colon cancer occurs when cancer in the colon spreads, or metastasizes, to other tissues and organs. Colon cancer most often spreads to the liver, but it may also reach the lungs, the lymph nodes, or the lining of the abdominal cavity.

35 Related Question Answers Found

Does Chemo work for Stage 4 colon cancer?

If the colon cancer has spread too far for surgery to be effective, chemotherapy is the primary treatment option. Most people with stage 4 colon cancer will receive chemotherapy or specific targeted therapies to help control the cancer progression or symptoms. It is not uncommon for doctors to try multiple treatments.

Is Colon Cancer aggressive or slow growing?

In general, colorectal cancers tend to be slow growing, gradually enlarging and eventually penetrating the bowel wall. When they do spread, it is usually through invasion of nearby lymph nodes. In fact, cancer cells may enter a lymph node even before the tumor penetrates through the intestinal wall.

How does colon cancer start?

Doctors aren't certain what causes most colon cancers. In general, colon cancer begins when healthy cells in the colon develop changes (mutations) in their DNA. As the cells accumulate, they form a tumor. With time, the cancer cells can grow to invade and destroy normal tissue nearby.

How bad is colon cancer?

Colon cancer is the second most deadly form of cancer after lung cancer. But it's one of the easiest diseases to detect, and in its earliest stages, it's also one of the most curable. If you've been diagnosed with colon cancer, or if you're at risk for the disease, it's time to learn everything you can.

How long is chemotherapy for colon cancer?

Doctors give chemo in cycles, with each treatment followed by a rest period to give the body time to recover. Chemotherapy cycles generally last about 2 to 4 weeks. People usually get at least several cycles of treatment.

Can you go into remission with Stage 4 colon cancer?

It often spreads to the liver, but it can also spread to the lungs, brain, peritoneum (the lining of the abdominal cavity), or lymph nodes. A cure where the cancer is totally eradicated and will never return is rare at stage 4. However, remission, where symptoms are reduced or gone for a time, is possible.

Is colon cancer death painful?

Pain. One of the foremost feared symptoms of death is pain. If your loved one is dying from colon cancer they most likely have diffuse ?metastasis—or the spread of cancer outside of their colon to other organs and lymph nodes, as well as tumors in and around their colon.

Can you have colon cancer for years and not know it?

At times, symptoms of colorectal cancer may not show up until the cancer has advanced. Because symptoms can go unnoticed during the early stages of the disease, guidelines recommend colon cancer screenings begin at age 50.

What does colon cancer poop look like?

Aim for a sausage-shaped stool, that's either smooth or has slight cracks on the surface. But, a mushy stool, or one that's entirely liquid, could be a sign of bowel cancer. “A change in bowel habit lasting for three weeks or more, especially to looser or runny stools, could be a sign of bowel cancer.”

At what stage does colon cancer bleed?

Most colon cancers bleed, usually slowly. The stool may be streaked or mixed with blood, but often the blood cannot be seen. The most common first symptom of rectal cancer is bleeding during a bowel movement.

What is N stage cancer?

The N refers to the the number of nearby lymph nodes that have cancer. The M refers to whether the cancer has metastasized. This means that the cancer has spread from the primary tumor to other parts of the body.

How long do you live after being diagnosed with colon cancer?

Many colon cancer statistics involve a five-year survival rate. For example, if the five-year survival rate for localized colon cancer is 90 percent, that means that 90 percent of the people diagnosed with localized colon cancer are still alive five years after their initial diagnosis.

Does Stage 1 colon cancer need chemo?

Treatment for colon cancer is based largely on the stage (extent) of the cancer, but other factors can also be important. People with colon cancers that have not spread to distant sites usually have surgery as the main or first treatment. Chemotherapy may also be used after surgery (called adjuvant treatment).

How long can a person live with colon cancer without surgery or chemotherapy?

However, it is assumed that these patients will undergo treatment. In general, the use of chemotherapy will, on average, extend the lifespan of a patient with stage IV colon cancer by approximately two to three years beyond what would be expected if they do not receive any therapy.

Where does colon cancer spread first?

Colon cancer most often spreads to the liver, lungs, and peritoneum (the lining of the abdomen). This cancer can also reach the bones and other organs. If it spreads to another organ, that's called metastatic, or stage IV, colon cancer.

Does colon cancer spread quickly?

The new research focused exclusively on metastatic colon cancer. But if a tumor develops into a carcinoma with the ability to metastasize, it will progress to metastasis quickly. This transformation occurs within about two years, before another mutation can develop.

How do you know what stage cancer you have?

Staging Groups

Stage 0 means there's no cancer, only abnormal cells with the potential to become cancer.
Stage I means the cancer is small and only in one area.
Stage II and III mean the cancer is larger and has grown into nearby tissues or lymph nodes.
Stage IV means the cancer has spread to other parts of your body.