This is a review of some of the basic facts that are related to colon cancer. It compliments our Comprehensive Report on Colon Cancer which focuses mainly on state-of-the-art treatment protocols, experimental clinical trials that are open, and current research. For details on that report, see the link. If you care to print this file, it is about 9 pages.
Colon cancer is a disease in which transformed cells (neoplasms) arise in the tissues of the colon. It occurs only in males and females alike. In the U.S., there were about 94,000 new cases of colon cancer diagnosed in the year 2000, and there was a total of about 853,000 standing cases. The life-time risk of being diagnosed with colon cancer is about 6% for both males and females, and the life-time risk of dying from colon cancer is 2.4%, alike. It is believed that a fair percentage of this cancer is hereditary.
There are six diagnostic stages of colon cancer, Stages 0, I, II, III, & IV, plus recurrent.
Stage 0 or carcinoma in situ. The cancer is found only in the innermost lining of the colon.
Stage I. The cancer has spread beyond the innermost lining of the colon to the second and third layers and involves the inside wall of the colon, but has not spread to the outer wall of the colon or outside the colon. Stage I colon cancer is sometimes called Dukes A colon cancer.
Stage II. Cancer has spread outside the colon to nearby tissue, but it has not gone into the lymph nodes. (Lymph nodes are small, bean-shaped structures that are found throughout the body. They produce and store cells that fight
infection.). Stage II colon cancer is sometimes called Dukes B colon cancer.Stage III. Cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes, but it has not spread to other parts of the body. (Lymph nodes are small, bean-shaped structures that are found throughout the body. They produce and store cells that fight
infection.). Stage III colon cancer is sometimes called Dukes C colon cancer.Stage IV. Cancer has spread to other parts of the body. Stage IV colon cancer is sometimes called Dukes D colon cancer.
Recurrent. Recurrent disease means that the cancer has come back (recurred) after it has been treated. It may come back in the colon or in another part of the body. Recurrent cancer of the colon is often found in the liver
The conventional treatments are: surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. As of January 2002, there were over 114 active, experimental, clinical trials that are being conducted, and during 2001 there were about 1,800 research reports which were published on colon cancer, both of which indicate a high degree of research activity.
In our Comprehensive Report on Colon Cancer, we detail the various stages and therapeutic alternatives. The experimental trials are listed and the most recent research citations are provided. The report is a component of what we call The Life-extension Approach to Medicine.
Below is some graphic information that is relevant to colon cancer. (The data are taken from The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program of the National Cancer Institute.)
Anatomical sites that are associated with colon cancer are below.  |
Total Incidence of Colon Cancer. Incidence means the number of cases of the disease per year per 100,000 population (U.S.). It provides an idea about the magnitude of the disease, whether some change in condition is causing an increase or decrease, and whether preventive measures are being effective.
Comments. The total incidence in colon cancer has remained, essentially, unchanged over the last three decades. For males, in 1973, the incidence was 53 per 100,000, and in 1998, it was 51 per 100,000, which in effect is no change. For females, in 1973 the incidence was 42 per 100,000 and in 1998 it was 38 per 100,000 - a slight decline.
Incidence of Colon Cancer by Age Category. This analyzes the incidence by specific age groups per 100,000 population.
Comments. There is a strong correlation between colon cancer and biological ageing, suggesting that a systemic deterioration, perhaps in the immune system or neuro-endocrine regulation or extra-cellular matrix, might be a primary, causative agent. Colon cancer will not be preventable unless and until biological ageing is cured.
Death or Mortality Rates of Colon Cancer. This is a measure of the number of persons dying from the disease per 100,000 population per year. It provides an idea about whether medical therapies are being effective.
Comments. The total death rate in colon cancer has declined in both sexes over the last three decades. For males, in 1973 the mortality reate was 24.9 per 100,000 and in 1998 it was 19.6 per 100,000, which is a significant decline. For females, in 1973 the incidence was 19.8 per 100,000 and in 1998 it was 13.7 per 100,000 - also a significant decline. A healthier population and early medical intervention are the mostly likely causes.
Mortality or Death of Colon Cancer by Age Category. This breaks out the total mortality above by specific age groups within a given age cohort as an average for a period of 4 years.
Comments. Again, there is a strong correlation between death from colon cancer and biological ageing, suggesting that a systemic deterioration, perhaps in the immune system or neuro-endocrine regulation or something more fundamental such as exta-cellular matrix deterioration, might be a primary, causative agent.
Survival Rates of Colon Cancer. These data show, at different epochs, the percentage of persons surviving the disease over a 5 year period.
Comments. In 1975, of those who were diagnosed with colon cancer, 73% were still alive after year 1 and 49% were alive at year 5. In 1993, the percentages improved to 81% and 61% respectively. This improvement in 5 year survival is due probably to early screening and surgery as well as a healthier population.
The Status of Research. One measure of potential progress on a particular disease is the amount of research which is being done. In the MEDLINE database, the number of reports on colon cancer has steadily increase.
Also, the main funding agency for cancer in the U.S. has steadily increased its budget to about $3.25 billion annually and a fair portion of that goes to colon cancer.
Comments. Research on colon cancer receives considerable funding; and the number of research reports on colon cancer continues to accelerate. In spite of that, only modest progress has been realized in prevention and cure. In our Comprehensive Report on Colon Cancer, we enable people to become directly involved in moving this science forward.
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