Colon Cancer Stage 3 Symptoms

A diagnosis of colon cancer can be devastating, and in spite of the screenings and tests available, thousands of people each year are diagnosed with this type of cancer. Beginning at age 50, each and every person should visit their health care provider for a regular colon cancer screening. If caught in the early stages, this can be cured, but if the cancer has advanced to the last, or Stage 4 level, chances of survival are slim.

Why Staging is Important

Colon cancer staging is one way for the physician to determine how far the cancer has advanced, and how to decide what treatment will give the best survival options. Stages are numbered 0 through 4, with the first, or stage 0, being the most curable and offering the longest survival rate. As the numbers of stages increase it means that the cancer is spreading or has already spread to the lymph nodes or other organs in the body. If a person has symptoms of Stage 3 colon cancer, the survival rate is considerably lower.

Stage 3 Symptoms

At this more advanced stage, the cancer has moved into at least 3 of the lymph nodes, but not to any other organs in the body, and symptoms may be more evident. Narrow stools that contain blood, feeling like a bowl movement is incomplete, or fatigue and weakness are a few of the symptoms that may begin to appear. Bloating may also be felt and seen. Treatment is going to depend on the overall health of the person who has been diagnosed with this stage.

Stage 3 Treatment Options

With Stage 3 colon cancer and subsequent symptoms, surgery is going to be the treatment that will offer the most chance of survival. Chemotherapy will also be used in combination with the surgery and is considered to be standard treatment at this point. If the doctor is unsure whether all the cancer cells have been removed during surgery, he may recommend radiation therapy for a period of time afterwards. However, not all colon cancer sufferers are able to withstand the rigors of surgery. Combinations of chemotherapy and radiation may be the only options.

What to do if Colon Cancer is Suspected

If you have never had a colon cancer test or screening, call the doctor immediately if you are having any symptoms that may point to colon cancer. It is vitally important that these tests are performed as soon as possible if there is going to be a chance to cure or halt the spread of the cancer. Even though colon cancer screenings may be a bit embarrassing to have done, remember that they are designed to predict cancer in the earliest stages, and thereby offer better survival rates. Remember to consider preventative measures such as colon cleansing, a healthy diet and an active lifestyle.