Several factors can influence survival times for colon cancer, including the type and stage of the disease. These include non-modifiable (unavoidable) and modifiable risk factors, such as age and comorbidity. Having knowledge of these factors can help you and your doctor make better treatment decisions.
Your prognosis (the expected outcome of your treatment) depends on how far the cancer has spread at the time of diagnosis. The term “metastasis” refers to when cancer cells have traveled from the colon or rectum to other parts of the body through the lymphatic and blood circulatory systems. The further the spread, the worse the prognosis.
If your cancer is localized, meaning that it has only been found in the colon or rectum, doctors will usually be able to cure you with surgery, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, radiation, or ablation. These treatments are used to destroy or remove cancerous cells and prevent them from recurring.
When your cancer has spread beyond the colon or rectum, it is considered metastatic colorectal cancer, or stage IV. At this point, it has likely metastasized to other organs in the body, most often to the lungs or liver. When the cancer has spread to the lungs, it is referred to as stage IVb. When it has spread to the liver, it is called stage IVc.
Your overall survival time after a colon cancer diagnosis will depend on the type and stage of your tumor, as well as other factors such as your general health, comorbidity, and how you respond to treatment. For example, being overweight can make it more difficult to get through the side effects of treatment and can increase your risk of complications like diabetes and cardiovascular disease. These factors can impact how long you live after your colon cancer diagnosis, so it is important to be aware of them and take steps to manage them.
You may also be able to expand your treatment options by participating in a clinical trial that is testing a promising new treatment. These trials are done under the supervision of a medical oncologist and can be a great way to improve your chances of survival.
A recent study showed that younger patients with stage III-IV colorectal cancer had a better prognosis than older patients. However, the authors of this study point out that other factors such as comorbidity and chemotherapy regimens were not controlled for in this analysis. It is possible that younger patients were given more intensive chemotherapy than older patients, and this may have contributed to their improved outcomes. In addition, this study was based on population data, which helps to avoid some of the biases that can occur with single center studies.
