A colon cancer diagnosis is always filled with uncertainties and fear. There are a lot of unknowns when patients are first diagnosed, and if this has recently happened to you or a loved one, you might be asking “Can you survive colon cancer?”
The answer is yes, and — depending on its stage — you’ll be happy to hear that colon cancer is entirely treatable. At Immunity Therapy Center, we know that knowledge can help cure anxieties for the future and we enjoy helping our patients and potential patients feel hopeful. With a positive outlook, you can tackle anything.
Read on to learn about the different stages of colon cancer and discover how exactly it’s treated, in both conventional and alternative colon cancer natural treatment plans.
Colon Cancer: The Basics
The colon, or large intestine, is an important part of the digestive system. Colon cancer, also known as colorectal or rectal cancer, is caused by mutations in the DNA which leads to an abnormal growth of cells in the colon.
Colon cancer is more common in adults over the age of 50, though people of all ages can be diagnosed with it. Once polyps (which are noncancerous lumps that form in the colon) grow larger, they can become cancerous.
The Stages of Colon Cancer
The stages of colon cancer include Stage 0, Stage I, Stage II, Stage III and Stage IV. Within stages II, III, and IV, there are three separate categories used to classify what happens at each point and the accompanying signs of colon cancer.
Stage 0 is called cancer in situ and means that cancer cells have only been found along the inner walls of the colon or rectum. While these colon polyps can lead to colon and rectal cancer in the large intestine, many are benign and can be removed through a colonoscopy without causing further damage.
Stage I means that the cancer has spread outside of this inner lining and into the colon or rectum’s muscular layers — though it hasn’t expanded to other tissues or lymph nodes.
Stage II refers to cancer that has spread past the colon wall but not into the lymph nodes. As mentioned, this stage is separated into three different categories to help further define where exactly in the muscle and nearby structures that the cancer has spread to.
Stage III means that the cancer has moved from the lining of the colon to the lymph nodes — though it hasn’t spread to the other organs within the body. This stage is separated into three categories to help describe where it has spread and how many lymph nodes have been affected.
Stage IV describes colon cancer that has moved through the blood as well as the lymph nodes and spread to other organs in the body. In this stage, the three different categories as well describe if the cancer has spread to one or multiple areas of the body and if it has gone through the membrane that forms the lining of the abdominal cavity.
Is Colon Cancer Treatable?
If you’re wondering can you survive colon cancer, the answer is without a doubt — yes! Colon cancer is highly treatable 1 and often curable when it is localized to the bowel. The primary form of treatment is surgery, which is said to lead to a cure for approximately 50% of patients. A large problem with colon cancer is recurrence following the surgery, which means that the cancer returns.
According to cancer.gov 2, the estimated emerging cases and fatalities from rectal and colon cancer in the United States for 2019 can be seen below:
- New occurrences of colon cancer: 101, 420
- New occurrences of rectal cancer: 44,180.
- Combined deaths: 51,020 (rectal and colon cancers)
What Are the Treatment Options For Colon and Rectal Cancer?
Looking at numbers and statistics can be frightening, especially if you or a loved one has been diagnosed with colon cancer. If you’re asking is colon cancer treatable and how can you treat it, there are several ways to go.
Conventional treatment options for colon cancer often require surgical removal of the affected areas as well as chemotherapy and radiation.
There are also natural treatment options for colon cancer, which can help support patients’ recovery without the negative risk factors and side effects. At Immunity Therapy Center, we focus on natural healing to strengthen the immune system and help your body fight against the disease. In restoring health to the body through alternative cancer treatments, we believe that you’ll be stronger with a better chance of survival.
By following your regular colorectal cancer screening schedule, eating a high-fiber diet, and closely paying attention to your bowel movements and digestive health, you will hopefully be able to create a colon cancer prevention plan that works for you and your lifestyle. Whether you have a family history of colon cancer or not, it is always advised to get a colorectal cancer screening as you get older. If you’re interested in hearing more about our alternative treatment for colon cancer, feel free to contact us today. Dr. Bautista is an enthusiastic pioneer of alternative medicine and offers attentive, personalized care for every patient. Here, at our holistic cancer treatment center, our team gets to know you on a personal level, so you’ll never feel like a faceless chart or diagnosis.
From all of us at Immunity Therapy Center, thank you for reading. We’re wishing you a happy, positive journey ahead. And remember, whatever you’re going through right now, there’s always a light at the end of the tunnel.
Written By: Dr. David Alvarez
Dr. David Alvarez is a Board Certified Medical Doctor from Universidad Xochicalco and Certified by the American Heart Association (Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support).
Dr. Alvarez has been collaborating with Dr. Bautista as an Assistant Medical Director at the Immunity Therapy Center for over 6 years. He provides daily on site patient care and participates on the medical board on research and development of patient treatment plans and programs. Dr. Alvarez is a knowledgeable and compassionate Doctor committed to helping patients get to where they want to be health wise through a more holistic and comprehensive approach.
Sources
1. https://www.cancer.gov/types/colorectal/hp/colon-treatment-pdq
At Immunity Therapy Center, our goal is to provide objective, updated, and research-based information on all health-related topics. This article is based on scientific research and/or other scientific articles. All information has been fact-checked and reviewed by Dr. Carlos Bautista, a Board Certified Medical Doctor at Immunity Therapy Center. All information published on the site must undergo an extensive review process to ensure accuracy. This article contains trusted sources with all references hyperlinked for the reader's visibility.