Colorectal Cancer: Early Stage Vs. Advanced Stage

The World Health Organisation (WHO) stated that colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer worldwide. Moreover, it is also the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths.

Colorectal cancer, affecting the colon and rectum begins as a non-malicious tumour, also called polyps. Over time, the benign cells turn cancerous and start spreading to the nearby organs.

A few years back, colorectal cancer was considered an “old person” disease. However, the latest reports have indicated the prevalence of this type of cancer among the younger generation to a great extent.

Though early detection is the key to the successful treatment of colorectal cancer, the disease is known as the silent killer as in the majority of patients, the disease is diagnosed in the advanced stage due to a lack of recognisable symptoms.

Colorectal cancer surgery is the most appropriate option when it comes to removing the cancerous cells and the metastatic lesions. If required surgery is accompanied by other treatment approaches like chemotherapy, radiation therapy and immunotherapy.

The prognosis and treatment of colorectal cancer differ significantly between early and advanced stages of cancer. In this blog, we will understand the difference between first and fourth-stage colorectal cancer, including their symptoms, treatment methods and survival rates.

Early-Stage Colorectal Cancer

In the early stage of colorectal cancer (Stage 0 and Stage 1), the cancer cells are confined to the rectal or colon’s inner lining. At this stage, the tumour is localised and has not spread to other parts of the body.

• Symptoms: Warning signs in the first stage of colorectal cancer are very subtle and include changes in bowel movements like constipation, diarrhoea, abdominal pain and blood in the stool. These symptoms are often mistaken for minor digestive issues. Also, not everyone with these signs has colorectal cancer.
• Treatment methods: Colorectal cancer surgery is the primary treatment approach in the early stage which involves the removal of the polyps alone or partial colectomy i.e part of the colon or rectum containing the tumour is excised.
• Survival rate: The five-year survival rate for Stage 0 and Stage 1 is nearly 90% with patients even achieving long-term remission following successful surgical intervention.

Advanced-Stage Colorectal Cancer

In the advanced stage (Stage 3 and Stage 4), colorectal cancer spreads to the nearby lymph nodes or the distant areas of the body including the tissues and organs of the liver, liver, lungs and peritoneum.

• Symptoms: The noticeable changes in the advanced stage of colorectal cancer are more severe. This includes persistent abdominal pain and cramping, frequent constipation and diarrhoea, unexplained weight loss, extreme fatigue and exhaustion. In case, the liver is affected, patients even experience jaundice, nausea and vomiting.
• Treatment method: Here, treatment becomes more complex and surgery is done in combination with other treatment approaches like chemotherapy and radiation therapy. If removal of the cancer cells is not a feasible option, treatment focuses on controlling the advancement of the tumour and performing immunotherapy to strengthen the body to fight against infection.
• Survival rate: The five-year survival rate for colorectal cancer in Stages 3 and 4 drops significantly and by the time, it reaches Stage 4, the survival chance is as low as 15%. However, with modern therapies, patients can live a better quality of life.

Conclusion

If you are someone who is experiencing some unknown changes in your bowel movements, don’t delay in getting yourself checked. Moreover, individuals above 50 years or with a family history of colorectal cancer are advised to undergo cancer screening to recognise the earliest signs of cancer and seek medical advice. If anything positive is detected, the earlier you have colorectal cancer surgery, the more the survival chance.