What is colon cancer?
Colon cancer is cancer that starts in the inside lining of the colon, which is part of your large intestine. Not counting skin cancers, it’s the third most diagnosed cancer today. Because they are similar, colon and rectal cancer are often grouped and called colorectal cancer.
This type of cancer is highly preventable and treatable when caught early. According to data from the CDC, there are more than 150,000 new cases of colorectal cancer each year in the United States. However, this number has decreased over the last two decades—most likely due to increased compliance with screening and polyp removal.
You have options if you have colon cancer risk factors or a new colon cancer diagnosis. Our locations offer complete services to care for you, from screenings to second opinions to innovative cancer care.
Causes of colon cancer
Colon cancer happens when abnormal cells in the colon’s lining divide and multiply. Doctors don’t fully understand why this occurs in some people, and there isn’t one leading cause of colon cancer. Many factors combine to decide your risk of developing the disease, from family history to medical conditions to lifestyle choices.
However, we do know that most colon cancers start from polyps. By finding and removing pre-cancerous polyps through routine colon cancer screening, doctors have the potential to stop colon cancer before it ever starts.
Hereditary colon cancer
It’s estimated about 5-10% of all cases of colon cancer are hereditary colon cancer. This means a person inherits a specific genetic mutation that makes them much more likely to develop colon cancer.
Several genetic mutations and syndromes have been linked to colon cancer, but researchers continue to look into other genetic causes of the disease. The most common hereditary conditions currently connected to a high risk of colon cancer are Lynch syndrome and familial adenomatous polyposis.
If you have a strong family history of colon cancer or a blood relative diagnosed with a genetic condition linked to colon cancer, talk with your doctor about genetic counseling. A genetic counselor can guide your next steps, including genetic testing and preventive care, based on your risk factors and history.
Types of colon cancer
Most of the time, colon cancer begins in the cells that make up the colon’s inner lining. But there are other types of colon cancer, too. Some rare types of colon cancer start in the blood vessels, muscles, lymph cells or hormone-producing cells.
Understanding the type of colon cancer you have is important because it will guide your care. Your healthcare team will tailor your treatment options based on the type and stage of the cancer.
Stages of colon cancer
After colon cancer diagnosis, staging determines the most suitable action and treatment options.
Colon cancer is categorized into four stages, ranging from 0 to 4, where stage 0 represents the earliest precancerous phase and stage 4 indicates the most advanced stage.
Understanding the significance of each colon cancer stage and the typical treatment plans for both stages and substages can provide valuable insights into the best approach to managing the disease.
