Colon Cancer
Colon Cancer: Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Future Outlook.: Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Future Outlook.
Disclaimer:
This blog is for informational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. Content is sourced from third parties, and we do not guarantee accuracy or accept any liability for its use. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical guidance.
What is Colon Cancer?
Colon cancer, a type of colorectal cancer, originates in the colon (large intestine), often from adenomatous polyps transforming into adenocarcinoma (95% of cases). It affects the ascending, transverse, descending, or sigmoid colon, with stages 0-IV based on invasion and spread. In 2025, it’s the third leading cancer cause of death, with ~106,000 US cases, more in men, median age 68.
Symptoms
Symptoms include rectal bleeding, blood in stool, bowel habit changes (diarrhea/constipation), abdominal pain/cramping, bloating, incomplete evacuation feeling, fatigue (from anemia), weight loss, and nausea. Advanced cases cause obstruction or perforation. Symptoms may be absent early, mimicking IBS.
Causes
Genetic mutations (APC, KRAS, TP53) drive polyp-to-cancer progression. Risk factors include age (>50), family history, inherited syndromes (Lynch, FAP), IBD, low-fiber/high-fat diet, obesity, smoking, alcohol, diabetes, and sedentary lifestyle. In 2025, microbiome and inflammation are key.
Diagnosis
Screening (age 45+) uses FIT, colonoscopy (gold standard, removes polyps), CT colonography, or stool DNA tests. Diagnosis involves colonoscopy/biopsy, blood tests (CEA), imaging (CT/MRI/PET for staging). Molecular testing for MSI, KRAS guides therapy. In 2025, AI colonoscopy detects 93% of polyps.
Treatment
Localized cancer uses surgery (colectomy). Stage II-III add adjuvant chemotherapy (FOLFOX). Metastatic uses targeted therapy (cetuximab for RAS wild-type), immunotherapy (pembrolizumab for MSI-high), and chemotherapy. In 2025, nivolumab + ipilimumab for dMMR improves survival.
Future Outlook
In 2025, 5-year survival is 65% overall, 90% localized. Advances like immunotherapy raise metastatic survival to 20%. By 2030, vaccines and microbiome therapies could achieve 80% survival.
Sources
The information for colon cancer is drawn from Medical News Today’s “Colorectal cancer: Symptoms, stages, & outlook” for symptoms; Mayo Clinic’s “Colon cancer – Symptoms and causes” for causes; PMC’s “Colorectal Cancer: Current Updates and Future Perspectives” for updates; Healthline’s “Colon Cancer: Symptoms, Stages, Outlook, and More” for outlook; Cleveland Clinic’s “Colon Cancer: Symptoms, Stages & Treatment” for treatment; MD Anderson’s “Colorectal Cancer: What is Colorectal Cancer? Symptoms, Risk Factors & Treatments” for risks; OncoDaily’s “Colon Cancer Cure Rate: What Patients Should Know in 2025” for prognosis; NCI’s “Advances in Colorectal Cancer Research” for research; PMC’s “Early stage colon cancer: Current treatment standards, evolving paradigms” for treatment; Treatment in Germany’s “Colorectal Cancer: Latest Advancements in Treatment in Germany for 2025” for advancements.