Last Stages of Colon Cancer

Hearing you’re in the last stages of colon cancer can be a scary thing.

Not knowing what will happen next and the uncertainty of your future are traumatic things to experience.

However… end stage colon cancer does not have to be a disaster.

The best treatments for colon cancer can increase your survival rate and allow you to live many pleasurable years to come.

Stages of Colon Cancer

In total there are 5 colon cancer stages starting at 0 and progressing to 4. Stage 0 has cancer that is contained within your colon, is slow spreading, and generally smaller as well.

As the stages progress, each factor increases in scope. As you get closer to stage 4, the treatments get harsher alongside a lower chance of survival.

Last Stages of Colon Cancer

The last stages of colon cancer can be thought of as the fourth stage. What separates the fourth stage from the lower stages is how much the cancer has spread to the other areas of your body. Generally it will have spread to the liver, lungs, and lymph nodes.

In order for the cancer to spread beyond the colon it has to pass through 5 membrane layers.

1. The mucosa.
2. The submucosa.
3. A smooth muscle layer.
4. Another smooth muscle layer.
5. And the serosa.

After the cancer has past the 5 membranes and reached your blood vessels or lymph nodes then it can easily spread to any organ that is supplied by them.

Stage 4 Colon Cancer Treatment

The first course of action is to perform a resection, which cuts the cancer out from the colon and adjoins the two healthy pieces left.

Since your cancer has spread to one or more organs, chemotherapy or radiation treatment may also be needed depending on its aggressiveness and size. Also, since the cancer has spread to other organs (stomach, liver, lungs, prostate, etc…) more surgery will most likely be needed to cut out the offending tissue.

Your doctor will assess the different risk factors (size, location, aggressiveness) and with your collaboration decide what is best for you. Since every patient is different there are no hard fast rules.

End Stage Colon Cancer Survival Rate

Your colon cancer survival statistics is dependent on a number of factors most notably; what country you live in, how far the cancer has spread, and your unique wishes.

Although not a lot of research has been performed in this area, diet and exercise may help increase your survival rate. However, more studies need to be performed.

The average colon cancer survivability 5 years after diagnosis of colon cancer stage 4 is 8-15%.

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