Advanced Colon Cancer Symptoms
One of the dangerous forms of cancer is colon cancer which begins in the colon. When nothing is done to cure the growth of cancer cells in the colon, the cancer cells would spread in other parts of the body. While the causes of this disease have yet to be determined by scientists, knowing the causes and treatment options can help in the cure of colon cancer as well as metastatic colon cancer.
Colon cancer begins when a tumor occur in the colon or at times in the rectum. Once the tumor begins to grow, the cancerous tissues also spread. The cancer cells can spread to other organs like lungs and the liver.
During its early stages, colon cancer can be cured easily. The survival rate in fact for those diagnosed with a stage 2 or 3 cancer is about 80%. But when the cancer progresses to advanced stages, the chances of successfully controlling the disease drop. The survival rate for advanced stages of colon cancer is 10%.
This is the reason why it is vital that the symptoms and signs of the disease are detected early, so that treatment of colon cancer begins immediately. However the problem is that most symptoms of colon cancer do not become obvious during the early stages of the disease.
There are many common symptoms which are indicative of possible early colon cancer. Among them are bleeding from anus, which may be rare or a coincidence; and stool containing small amounts of blood. Other symptoms are vomiting, nausea, abdominal pain, sudden loss of weight, thin stool, considerable change in the bowel habits, diarrhea, tiredness or fatigue, and stomach cramps.
Consult your doctor immediately once you experience at least one of these symptoms listed. While some of these symptoms may indicate other infections, it is important to get immediate medical attention. Typically, physicians will perform a couple of tests and clinical procedures in order to determine the affliction of colon cancer, or the spread or extent of the disease.
In case of detection of colon cancer, there are a couple of treatment options. For instance, colon cancer surgery can be recommended to remove the portions of the large intestine affected by the tumors. But once the patient is diagnosed with colon cancer in its 4th stage, then the chances of survival are slim. However, there is still hope for those afflicted with advanced colon cancer.
