Colon Cancer Survival Rates

Colon cancer survival rates indicate the probabilities a cancer patient has of surviving the illness for a specified length of time. The rates are by no means a definite indicator of what will take place to a patient they can at best predict a patient's probabilities of what may take place to him, if a kind of therapy program is opted for, based on what has occurred to other patients in similar circumstances. They serve as a guide to a patient and his family members to know what they can anticipate if they decide on a specific kind of remedy or if they need to think about 1 at all rather than just opt for pain relievers and sedation.

Colon cancer is a disease of the lower portion of the digestive system affecting the colon, rectum and appendix. It is also called colorectal or sizeable bowel cancer. It is the 2nd leading cause of cancer associated deaths in the Western Globe.

Colon cancer when detected in the early stages is 1 of the most curable of cancers, by as much as 90%. Happily, the colon cancer survival rates have been steadily enhancing more than the past 20 years, considering of improved screening that makes treatment doable at the early curable stages. There are more than 1 million survivors of the illness in the US right now.

As with most cancers, prognosis is determined by the stage at which the illness is diagnosed, the later the stage at which the illness is diagnosed, the lower the survival rate. The Journal of the National Cancer Institute offers these overall survival rates for colon cancer in the US: 93% at stage 1, 85% at stage 2A, 72% at stage 2B, 83% at stage 3A, 64% at stage 3B, 44% at stage 3C and 8% at stage 4.

Colon cancer survival rates also vary depending on where the tumor is situated. If the cancerous growth is located in the ascending colon, the 5 year survival rate is 63%, for the transverse colon it is 59% and for the descending colon it is 66%.

Remedy is primarily surgical in which the cancerous section of the bowel is removed and the two open ends are joined. If they can't be joined, a colostomy bag is essential, in which case the bowel is brought outside the abdominal wall for the bag. Surgery is followed by chemotherapy and radiotherapy which improves the survival rate by a further 5-6%.

Overall colon cancer affects guys and females of all races equally then again, girls are even more prone to developing colon cancer and males rectal cancer. Getting more than the age of 50 presents an increased risk aspect with the risk for developing the illness rising with every single passing decade. More than 75% of cases are diagnosed in individuals over the age of 50 having said that younger people too are at danger and cannot afford to ignore screening. Smoking, consumption of alcohol, getting overweight and living sedentary lifestyles is danger variables as are having a family history of the illness and diabetes.

Since it has been proved that colon cancer survival rates have elevated due to elevated and improved screening methods, it is highly advised that the survival rates be further improved with persons over the age of 40 having regular colonoscopies and rectal exams to enhance the chances of early detection and treatment.