8 Early Warning Signs and Stages of Colon Cancer

The stages of colon cancer refer to the extent of spread of the cancer at the time that it is identified. There are 4 main stages of colon cancer, referred to as stages 1-4.

• Stage 1 colon cancer has spread from the lining of the large intestine into the muscular wall of the large intestine.
• Stage 2 colon cancer has spread through the wall of the intestine to the outermost layer and may grow into adjacent organs.
• Stage 3 colon cancer has spread to lymph nodes in the area or to other organs in the area.
• Stage 4 colon cancer is metastatic colon cancer. It has spread away from the colon to other parts of the body such as the liver, bones, or lungs.
• The term Stage 0 is sometimes used for a very early cancer that only affects the lining of the intestine. This has been also referred to as carcinoma in situ.

There are other conditions that can cause the same signs and symptoms as colon cancer. Some of these conditions are very common.

• Bleeding in the stool can be caused by inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn’s disease.
• Ulcerative colitis (UC) as well as ulcers and diverticulitis.
• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) may cause changes in bowel habits including diarrhea and constipation along with bloating and abdominal discomfort.
• If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, it is important to discuss them with your healthcare practitioner to help determine the cause of your symptoms.