TriangleFOR PATIENTS · SOURCE READING
Certain factors affect prognosis (chance of recovery) and treatment options.
Source: Colon Cancer Treatment (PDQ®)–Patient Version, National Cancer Institute.
Source updated: May 16, 2025 · Captured 2026-09-09.
Selected source text with whitespace normalised. This Triangle page is not an NCI PDQ summary. Independent clinical review is pending.
The prognosis and treatment options depend on:
the stage of the cancer (whether it affects the inner lining of the colon only, or has spread to lymph nodes, nearby organs, or other places in the body)
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the level of CEA in the blood
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whether the cancer is related to certain genetic changes in stool cells
whether the tumor has spread into or through the colon wall
whether the colon is blocked or has a hole in it
whether all of the tumor can be removed by surgery
the patient's general health
whether the cancer has just been diagnosed or has recurred (come back)
Preserved source evidence · Independent clinical review pending · Not medical advice