What is the prognosis for people with colorectal cancer?
Every person is different and responds differently to treatment.
However, with prompt and appropriate treatment, the outlook for a person with
colorectal cancer is hopeful. The survival rate for people with colorectal
cancer depends on the extent of the cancer at the time of diagnosis and the individual’s
response to treatment. In addition, many new discoveries have the potential for improving
the treatment of colorectal
cancer, as well as the prognosis.
Several factors determine how well a person will do after treatment for colorectal cancer.
They include:
- Stage of the cancer — This is the most critical factor. According to the
National Cancer Institute*, survival for Stage I colon or rectal cancer is
about 93 percent. Survival for Stage II is between 72 and 85 percent and for
Stage III, 44 and 83 percent. Chemotherapy may improve prognosis for Stage
III cancer. Stage IV cancer has a poor prognosis; about 8 percent are alive
at five years.
- The number of lymph glands involved — The lymph system is a circulatory
system that includes an extensive network of lymph vessels and lymph nodes.
The lymphatic system helps coordinate the immune system’s function to
protect the body from foreign substances. The more lymph glands that were
affected by the cancer, the more likely your cancer will recur. Chemotherapy
may be needed in cases where lymph nodes are involved.
- If the cancer has spread to other organs — If the colorectal cancer is
advanced, it may spread to other organs, such as the liver or lungs. In this
case, additional chemotherapy or radiation may be needed to help delay the
further spread of the cancer.
- Quality of the surgery — This is most important for rectal cancers,
where the surgery can be difficult.
Many people who have had colorectal cancer live normal life
spans. The treatments available today offer good outcomes, but you may require
several treatments or a combination of treatments (surgery, chemotherapy,
radiation) to have the best chance of avoiding a recurrence of the cancer.
Remember to tell your doctor about any changes in your health. This will help
him or her decide if you need any additional screening tests or treatment.
*Information is based on a National Cancer Institute Study that
looked at 120,000 people diagnosed with colon cancer between 1991 and 2000