The colon, along with the rectum, is the end portion of the tube that stretches from the mouth to the anus. Food is taken through the mouth, where it is crushed into small pieces by the teeth. It is then digested inside the stomach and the small intestine.

Colon cancer starts out as small growths in the interior walls of the colon, known as polyps. Some of these polyps can be precancerous. Knowing about the different stages and treatments for colon cancer is essential to catch the disease early, giving the patient better chances for recovery.

What are the causes of colon cancer?
Medical professionals are not entirely certain about the exact causes of colon cancer. Although the stages and treatments for colon cancer are well known, there is some mystery surrounding what exactly causes the disease. It begins when healthy cells in the colon region undergo mutations which change their DNA structure.

Cells in our bodies grow and divide following a set pattern. But when these cells turn cancerous, they start dividing independently in an arbitrary manner. As a result, new cells are created. These new cells are not required by the body and they can form tumors. When left unchecked, the cancer cells grow rapidly and affect other healthy cells of the body, destroying them in the process. There are certain risk factors associated with colon cancer which include:

Old age
People older than 50 are at a higher risk of developing colon cancer.

Race
People of African-American descent are more likely to develop this disease than those belonging to other races.

Obesity and high-fat diet
Obese people with diets consisting of high fat and high protein filled with red meat are at a greater risk.

Smoking and drinking
Both of these places you at a higher risk.

Stages of colon cancer

Stage 0
This is the early form of cancer when it has not spread beyond the inner layers of the colon.

Stage 1
At this stage, the cancer spreads from the innermost layer to the submucosa of the colon.

Stage 2
At this stage, the cancer spreads to the outer regions of the colon and starts affecting the lymph nodes as well.

Stage 3
This stage sees the cancer further affecting the lymph nodes and the nearby organs.

Stage 4
This is the final stage of the cancer where it spreads from the colon to distant organs such as the liver and lungs.

Treatment

The stages and treatments for colon cancer are interdependent. The age and health status of the patient is also taken into consideration by the doctor while choosing the treatment program. These include:

Surgery
This procedure, also known as colectomy, involves the surgical removal of the part of the colon affected by cancer. Depending on the stage of the disease, some portion of the area surrounding the colon might need to be removed as well.

Chemotherapy
This involves using medications that interrupt the rapid cell division of the cancer cells. Chemotherapy affects healthy cells as well, but they can recover from the damage, unlike the cancer cells.

Radiation therapy
This procedure uses gamma possessing high energy to eliminate the cancer cells. This radiation may be applied by means of a machine outside the body, or by radioactive materials planted near the cancer site.

Colon cancer is a serious condition and you should seek treatment immediately if you notice symptoms. If detected early, it can be cured via surgery.