Colon Cancer Stages and Common Treatment Methods
Colon cancer is a condition in which malignant cancer cells form in the tissues of the colon. It is the third most common type of cancer in the United States. In 2019, the American Cancer Society (ACS) predicted that 101,420 people in the U.S. will receive a new diagnosis of colon cancer. The symptoms that are commonly reported include blood in the stool or a drastic change in bowel habits. Medical experts recommend regular screenings for colon cancer once you reach the age of 50. This article explains the stages and treatments for colon cancer in detail. The condition mostly does not exhibit any visible symptoms. However, the common signs include loose and narrow stools, weakness and fatigue, iron deficiency anemia, a continual urge to pass stool despite clear bowels, weakness, blood in the stool, and abdominal pain, among others. There are several ways to stage cancer. The stages of the disease determine how far the cancer has spread in the body and is crucial to determine treatment methods for it. The stages and treatments for colon cancer are as follows. Stage 0 – At this point, cancer is at an early stage and has not spread further than the inner colon layer.