Colon cancer is a type of cancer that starts in the large intestine, which is also known as the colon. It is the digestive tract’s ending portion. Usually, this cancer affects older adults. However, people of any age can be diagnosed with it. Colon cancer starts when polyps, which are non-cancerous clumps of cells, form within the colon. Polyps may produce few symptoms. Explained ahead are the various stages and treatments for colon cancer to help you get a better idea of the disease:

1. Stages of colon cancer

• Stage 0: During this stage, the abnormal cells are detected in the colon’s mucosa or wall. This stage is termed as “carcinoma in situ.”
• Stage I: During this stage, the cancer invades the submucosa or mucosa. The submucosa is the large intestine underlining, and it lies below the mucosa. During this stage, malignant cells may also impact the colon wall’s deeper muscle layer, but they do not attack any regions that are outside the colon.
• Stage II: During this stage, the cancer has spread past the colon wall. However, it has not impacted the lymph nodes.
• Stage III: In this stage, the cancer spreads past the colon lining and impacts the lymph nodes. During this stage, even though the lymph nodes are impacted, the cancer does not affect other body organs.
• Stage IV: In this stage, the cancer spreads to other body organs through the lymph nodes and blood.

2. Treating colon cancer across various stages
Explained below are the various treatments for colon cancer across different stages.

• Treatment for Stage 0: In order to treat colon cancer during this stage, a polypectomy is done during a colonoscopy to eradicate all the malignant cells. If the cells have impacted a larger region, the doctor performs an excision. It is a minor and minimally invasive surgery that can be done at the time of colonoscopy.
• Treatment for Stage I: To treat stage I colon cancer, a surgery termed “partial colectomy” is performed. This surgery involves rejoining the colon parts that are still healthy.
• Treatment for Stage II: In this stage, surgery is done to remove the impacted areas. The doctor may also advise chemotherapy in certain cases. Abnormal or high-grade cancer cells or tumors that have caused a perforation or blockage of the colon may need further treatment. If the doctor/surgeon was not successful in removing all the cancer cells, he may recommend radiation to kill the remaining cells and decrease the probability of a recurrence.
• Treatment for Stage III: The treatment for Stage III colon cancer involves chemotherapy and removal of the affected areas. The surgeon may also suggest radiation therapies for patients who are not fit enough for surgery or for those who still have cancer cells within the body even after surgery has taken place.
• Treatment for Stage IV: The treatment for this stage involves undergoing surgery to remove metastases or small regions in the organs that have been impacted. In most instances, the areas are very big, and hence, they cannot be removed. Chemotherapy may prove effective to shrink tumors.