Colon Cancer

Colon cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide. It begins in the cells that line the colon. Cancer cells may spread or metastasize through the blood or lymphatic system or directly grow into tissues adjacent to the original cancer. The National Cancer Institute estimates that about half of all colon cancer patients will develop liver metastases found either at first diagnosis or recurrence after treatment.

According to the World Health Organization, about one million new cases of colon cancer are diagnosed yearly worldwide. The diagnosis of colon cancer may sound like a death sentence but the disease can actually be treated, especially when it is caught in the early stages. Depending on what stages the disease a patient is diagnosed at, chemotherapy, radiotherapy or surgery could be done. There are a lot of studies currently being conducted to determine new ways of treating the disease. It is hoped that the results of these studies will provide new treatment modalities, which will help oncologist and patients in their battle against colon cancer.