Colon cancer affects the colon, which is part of the digestive system. Colon cancer is sometimes hereditary and usually affects older individuals. It is important to know the stages and life expectancy of colon cancer, in case you or a loved one develops this type of cancer.
Stage 0
During Stage 0 colon cancer, your doctor may find abnormal cells in your colon's lining. The abnormal cells may become cancerous.
Stage I
Stage I means the abnormal cells have turned into cancer and have progressed from one layer of your colon to the middle layers. The five-year survival rate for those diagnosed in this stage is 93 percent.
Stage II
In Stage II of colon cancer, cancer cells may have spread to your rectum or other nearby organs. The five-year survival rate for those diagnosed in this stage is between 72 percent and 85 percent.
Stage III
Stage III may mean that the cancer has spread to three or four lymph nodes, as well as to your rectum or other organs. The five-year survival rate for those diagnosed in this stage is between 44 percent and 83 percent.
Stage IV
When colon cancer reaches Stage IV, it is likely that the cancer has spread not only to surrounding areas of your colon, but also to other organs, such as the liver or lungs. The five-year survival rate for people diagnosed in this stage is about 8 percent.
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