Colon cancer

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Barium enema	Colon cancer - series	Colon culture	Colonoscopy
Colostomy - series	Digestive system	Large bowel resection - series	Large intestine
Rectal cancer, X-ray	Sigmoid colon cancer, X-ray	Spleen metastasis - CT scan	Stages of cancer
Structure of the colon	The large intestine

If the patient's colon cancer does not come back (recur) within 5 years, it is considered cured. Stage I, II, and III cancers are considered potentially curable. In most cases, stage IV cancer is not curable.

• Cancer spreading to other organs or tissues (metastasis)
• Recurrence of carcinoma within the colon
• Development of a second primary colorectal cancer

Colon cancer is, in almost all cases, a treatable disease if caught early. Removal of pre-cancerous polyps by colonoscopy essentially prevents colon cancer. If you are age 50 or older and have not yet had a colonoscopy, you should ask your health care provider about scheduling one. Early colon cancer usually has no symptoms, so screening by colonoscopy is important.

You should also call your health care provider if you have blood during a bowel movement, black, tar-like stools, or a change in bowel habits.

Review Date: 03/06/2007
Reviewed By: Updated by: A.D.A.M. Editorial Team: Greg Juhn, M.T.P.W., David R. Eltz, Kelli A. Stacy. Previously reviewed by Rita Nanda, M.D., Department of Medicine, Section of Hematology/Oncology, University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, IL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. (October 31, 2006)