However, these are only averages and each person’s survival odds vary.
The SEER survival estimates only give a general picture of what to expect if you have colon cancer.
In fact, it’s possible that medical treatment can entirely remove cancer.
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There are several factors that influence survival times.
Age
Your age when you’re diagnosed with colon cancer may affect your survival time and prognosis.
The midpoint (median) age of a colon cancer diagnosis is 68 in men and 72 in women.
Get our printable guide for your next doctor’s appointment to help you ask the right questions.
However, younger people can also be diagnosed with colorectal cancer.
Researchers know that being at an older age already plays a central role in the onset of the disease.
With each year older a person gets, their risk of dying from cancer increases.
Get our printable guide for your next doctor’s appointment to help you ask the right questions.
While surgery is a primary form of colon cancer treatment, it is not the best option for everyone.
Some cancers areinoperableand cannot be removed because of their location and/or the general health of the patient.
PS is measured in several ways.
Having a lower score generally means that you are less able to tolerate cancer treatments.
In the United States, the overall five-year survival rate for White patients with colon cancer is 65.4%.
Weight
Weight plays a role in the onset and progression of colon cancer.
Each of these factors is independently linked to both the onset and progression of colon cancer.
BMI is a dated, flawed measure.
It does not take into account factors such asbody composition, ethnicity, sex, race, and age.
Smoking
Smoking affects the risk for all cancers, including colon cancer.
Cigarette smoke leads to chronic inflammation and oxidative damage to DNA.
Survival Rate by Stage
Colon cancer advances in stages.
Typically, survival rates are described in five-year increments (five-year survival rates).
This is the proportion of people who will live forat leastfive years after theyre diagnosed.
Mucinous adenocarcinoma starts in mucus-producing glands of the colon.
Compared to typical adenocarcinoma, mucinous adenocarcinoma is associated with about a 20% reduction in overall survival times.
Signet-ring cell carcinoma accounts for less than 1% of colon cancers.
Its different from other cancers because of the appearance of its cells.
Sarcoma
Sarcomasare a broad category of cancers in connective tissues.
The two most common types in the colon aregastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST)andleiomyosarcoma.
GIST is associated with generally worse outcomes, with an overall five-year survival rate of 46%.
Of the 30% that are malignant, most occur in the stomach, small intestine, or rectum.
Leiomyosarcoma is a punch in of cancer of the smooth muscles, including those of the colon and rectum.
Primary colorectal lymphomas account for just 0.5% of all colorectal cancers and around 5% of all lymphomas.
They tend to be associated with worse outcomes, in part because they are hard to diagnose.
Data suggests that the overall five-year survival rate for primary colorectal lymphoma is 56.4%.
Thesecells (melanocytes) can also be found in the gastrointestinal tract.
In rare cases, they can lead to primary colorectal melanoma.
Summary
Colon cancer survival rates vary by age, stage, and other factors like treatment.
Talk with your cancer care team about your prognosis and check that you understand the factors that affect it.
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