Stages and Treatments for Colon Cancer
The third most common type of cancer in the country, colon cancer affects the colon or large intestine, which absorbs water and salt from solid wastes. Cancerous tumors in the large intestine result in symptoms like diarrhea or constipation, IBS, loose stools, weakness, fatigue, and abdominal pain, among several other symptoms. The condition mostly affects individuals above the age of 50 years. This article talks about the stages and treatments for colon cancer; read on to know more. Stages of colon cancer Depending upon its severity, colon cancer is categorized into different stages, and the treatments for the disease depend on the stage the cancer is at. Each stage signifies the severity of cancer depending upon the size of the tumor and the area infected: Stage 0 Also called carcinoma in situ, this is an early stage of the condition. Cancer can be treated easily at this stage as the tumor is inside the inner layer of the colon. Stage 1 At this stage, the tumor has developed and infected the adjacent layer of the tissue, but it has not reached the lymph nodes and surrounding organs. Stage 2 At this stage, the tumor has developed to the peripheral layers of the colon but has not spread outside the colon.