End Stage Colon Cancer

The words end stage colon cancer is not a pleasant thing to hear.

The fear of the unknown and what will happen to you next can be downright scary.

But… the last stages of colon cancer doesn’t have to be the end.

You can survive and still maintain your quality of life with the latest treatments for colon cancer.

Colon Cancer Stages

There are 5 stages of colon cancer (0, 1, 2, 3 and 4). The first stage is the smallest, most contained, and least aggressive form.

Each stage progressively increases in each factor. The higher the stage, the more invasive the treatments and lower the survival rates.

End Stage Colon Cancer

The fourth stage is also called end stage colon cancer. The main difference between stage 4 and the others is how far the cancer has spread from the colon. With stage 4 colon cancer it’s usually spread to the lungs, liver, and lymph nodes.

To get past the colon the cancer has to spread beyond five different layers of membrane.

- The mucosa.
- The submucosa.
- A smooth muscle layer.
- Another smooth muscle layer.
- And the serosa.

Once the cancer has past through the five layers and has hit your lymph node or a blood vessel then it can spread easily to any other organ within your body.

End Stage Cancer Treatment

The main treatment consists of surgically cutting out the cancerous tissue within the colon and rejoining the healthy areas, also known as a resection.

You may also undergo radiation treatment or chemotherapy depending on the wishes of your doctor. If the cancer has spread through your body to other organs (testicles, prostate, stomach, lungs, or liver, etc…) then additional surgery may be warranted.

Depending on where the cancer lies in the colon and other organs, your doctor will decide what treatment is best for you. One factor does not fit all situations.