Colon Cancer Stages

Colon Cancer Stages

If you are diagnosed with colon cancer the doctor will conduct several colon cancer staging tests to determine the level or what they call stage that it has developed to.

Of course, as with any cancer, the sooner it is detected the easier it will be to treat.

Your prognosis will depend on certain factors such as whether the cancer is just in the lining, inside of the colon, or has spread throughout the body and into other organs.

The doctor will further base your prognosis on if the cancer has caused a block in your intestines and he will want to conduct various blood tests to determine blood levels of a specific agent that runs in your bloodstream at different levels depending on how far the cancer has advanced. So prior to recommending any form of treatment your doctor will rely heavily on your general health, if the cancer has recurred, and what stage the cancer has advanced to.

Staging is what doctors refer to as the tests that are conducted to determine the stage that cancer has advanced to. Stage four colon cancer means advanced colon cancer. You could expect the doctor to perform a CAT scan, which takes a look at the inside of the body through taking pictures and in some instances they will also inject a dye to more clearly see the organs. The doctor will probably also want to perform a lymph node biopsy which removes some of the cancerous cells and they are viewed under a microscope. Further, expect a complete blood count (CBC). This can give the doctor much very important information by viewing your white and red blood cells and platelets. It also indicates to the doctor the levels of CEA that are in your bloodstream. CEA is released into your bloodstream from cancerous cells but also from normal cells however, in higher amounts the doctor can make further determinations based on that information.

An MRI will probably be done so that all of the cancerous cells can be viewed and a chest x-ray may be done to view the organs and bones inside of the chest. Surgery may also be scheduled to remove any tumors that may be present. These are all necessary tests that have to be performed in order for your doctor to fully understand the development of this disease and treat it to the best of his or her ability.