Colon cancer can be dangerous if it is not diagnosed and treated early. It is the third most common type of cancer in both men and women worldwide, and it can develop over several years without showing any symptoms. If left untreated, colon cancer can spread to other parts of the body, such as the liver, lungs, and brain, and become more difficult to treat.
However, with early detection and treatment, the prognosis for colon cancer is often good. Regular screening tests, such as colonoscopies, can detect precancerous growths called polyps, which can be removed before they become cancerous. Treatment for colon cancer may involve surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy, depending on the stage and location of the cancer.
Colon cancer keeps spreading in the US among young Americans
Colon cancer is becoming more prevalent in younger Americans, but new technology can remove early-stage cancers without surgery, as abc7 reveals. Regular colonoscopies are essential for catching colon cancer early, and a minimally-invasive treatment called endoscopic submucosal dissection can remove pre-cancerous polyps without the need for surgery.
However, this treatment is most successful when the cancer is very small. Eating a Mediterranean diet and engaging in moderate exercise may help prevent colon cancer. Regular colonoscopies are recommended for all Americans starting at age 45.
Apart from the new study, it is known that the survival rate for colon cancer varies depending on the stage of the cancer at diagnosis and other factors such as the patient’s age and overall health.
According to the American Cancer Society, the overall five-year relative survival rate for people with colon cancer is around 65%. This means that, on average, people with colon cancer are about 65% as likely as people without colon cancer to live for at least five years after diagnosis.
Also, it is known that the survival rate is much higher for people diagnosed with early-stage colon cancer, where the cancer is localized to the colon, and the five-year survival rate can be as high as 90%.
