Stage 4 Colon Cancer

Stage 4 Colon Cancer (sometimes also called Duke's D Colon Cancer) is the most advanced stage of the disease. By this point, the cancer has broken through the wall of the colon and has spread to other organs. It is not uncommon for the disease to have also advanced into the lymph nodes. The two most common destination organs are the liver and the lungs.

What Is the Treatment for Stage 4 Colon Cancer?

Surgery may be required on an emergency basis, such as when the size of the tumor in the colon is so large that it is causing an obstruction, preventing the passage of fecal matter. Surgery may also be the first form of treatment when there are only a few, relatively small, tumors in an organ other than the colon. When the number of these tumors become too numerous or their size becomes too large, surgery may no longer be an option, at least initially. Under these circumstances, chemotherapy, avastin, (and possibly ratiation therapy) may be used in an attempt to reduce the size and/or number of these tumors. If this part of the treatment is successful, surgery may become a viable option. Even if surgery does not become an option, it may still be possible to temporarily stop or at least slow down the progression of the disease. In some cases, the disease may advance so far or may cause so much damage that treatment is no longer an option. In such cases, the patient is normally provided with paliative care in order to reduce pain and maintain the patient's quality of life.

What Is the Survival Rate for Stage 4 Colon Cancer?

The generally cited 5-year survival rate for this stage is approximately 8%. While this number is valid over the general population of patient's, it is impossible to predict how a given individual will react to treatment. Many factors, including the patient's age, overall health, and the degree to which the disease has spread, all can influence the individual patient's prognosis.