Colon cancer stages, diagnosis and treatment
COLON CANCER STAGES, DIAGNOSIS,
AND TREATMENT:
COLON CANCER:
We have discussed colon cancer in a previous article, but it’s a vast topic to discuss, so in this part, I am describing how doctors define its stages, diagnose it, and treat it.
COLON CANCER STAGES:
Staging is a process that describes the details of cancer growth means its position, level of growth, spread, and involvement in other organs of the body.
Doctors used different diagnostic tests to find its stage. Which helps doctors it’s the treatment and prediction of patients’ progression.
We describe it in the TNM staging system.
TNM STAGING SYSTEM:
We scan it staging in the TNM system after performing all investigations.
1- T: (TUMOR):
How many layers of the colon is this tumor involved?
2- N: (LYMPH NODES):
How many lymph nodes are involved due to tumor growth?
3- M: (METASTASIS):
where cancer spreads in any part of the body and how much area it is covered.
This TNM system combined to make a diagnosis and line of treatment for the doctor.
Five stages explain the level of colon cancer through the TNM system, so doctors adjust the line of treatment accordingly.
There are 5 stages: stage 0 (zero) and stages I through IV (1 through 4). The stage provides a common way of describing cancer, so doctors can work together to plan the best treatments.
1- TUMOR T:
In the TNM system, T is abbreviated for tumor and it is subdivided into four levels 0-4, which describe the growth of colon cancer.
T zero: No evidence of cancer in the colon.
T1: The tumor has grown up into the submucosa, which is the underneath layer of the colon.
T2: The tumor has grown up into the muscular propria, which is a thicker and deeper layer of the colon.
T3: The tumor grew up and passed through the muscularis propria into the subserosa and sometimes grew into colon and rectum tissues.
T4: The tumor covers all layers of the colon and at the advanced level, it involves the other organs.
2- NODE: N:
N is abbreviated to lymph nodes and it is subdivided into 2 levels.
N zero: No spread of cancer in lymph nodes.
N1: there is only one lymph node involvement seen.
N2: there are 4-6 or more it lymph node involvements seen.
3- METASTASIS: M:
M is abbreviated to metastasis. It means cancer cells have been found in other organs of the body.
M zero: Cancer cells weren’t find in any organ of the body.
M1:
M1a: Cancer cell involvement has been seen in one organ of the body except for the colon or rectum.
M1b: Cancer cell involvement has been seen in more than one organ of the body except for the colon or rectum.
M1c: Cancer cell involvement has been seen up to the peritoneal surface.
COLON CANCER DIAGNOSIS:
Colon cancer will be diagnosed through different tests for its confirmation and the diagnosis of its staging. The doctor will decide on the test which is necessary for the patient according to his age and general health, his signs, and symptoms, and his family and medical history plays an important role in the diagnosis of colon cancer.
Test which is important for the diagnosis of colon cancer are mentioned below.
- Colonoscopy
- Biopsy
- Biomarker testing of the tumor.
- Blood test
- Computed tomography (CT or CAT) scan.
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
- Ultrasound
- Chest X-ray
- Positron emission tomography (PET) or PET-CT scan.
COLON CANCER TREATMENT:
The treatment plan is different in different patients, according to their situation, and level of stages of colon cancer.
Some things are most important for treatment that which method or procedure is best for patients. so, doctors have to focus on some things before starting the treatment.
1. The patient physical and medical condition.
2. Patient’s co-morbid or overall health
3. Patient’s nutrient habits or social status.
4. Always focus on the side effects of treatment which vary in different patients.
5. Previous medication side effects should also be focused on by doctors when they want to start colon cancer treatment.
After all these workups doctors decided to design a chart for his treatment to do step by step.
1. Chemotherapy
2. Radiotherapy
3. Surgery
4. Immunotherapy
5. Targeted therapy
6. Treatment of the stages of cancer
7. Decrease the chances of recurrence of colon cancer.
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