The prognosis looks good for colon cancer. If it is caught early enough, there is a 96% survival rate. People who have had colon cancer are living normal life spans. Because this is one of the only cancers that’s preventable, we need to take charge of our health and get screened so we can wipeout this disease entirely.

Quick survival rate facts
Here is a quick glance at the five-year survival rates for the various stages of colon cancer:

Stage I = 90% chance
Stage II = 80% chance
Stage III = 50% chance
Stage IV = 8% chance

Some facts about colong cancer:

• If colon cancer does not return within 5 years, you are considered cured.
  

• Colon cancer stages 0, I, II, and III are considered curable.
  

• There is a dramatic drop-off in survival rates from stage III and stage IV.

Factors affecting survival:
Despite these promising statistics, each of us has to remember that our prognosis for colon cancer will vary from that of the person next to us. In addition to the stage of the cancer, here are some of the things that can make a difference:

• The quality of your surgery: A surgery that is performed poorly can hamper your healing process and bring down your chances of survival.
  

• The number of lymph nodes affected: The more nodes involved, the more advanced the cancer.
  

• How far the cancer has spread: When cancer spreads to other organs in the body, conquering it requires a more vigorous treatment.

No matter what your diagnosis is, it is important to remember that while you may have cancer, cancer doesn't have you. Numbers and percentages are just statistics. We can't let them discourage or encourage us too much. Each of us needs to fight our cancer in our own unique way.

See also

• Colon cancer - introduction
• Colon cancer - prevalence
• Colon cancer - prevention
• Colon cancer - causes and risk factors
• Colon cancer - detection and diagnosis
• Colon cancer - treatment options
• Colon cancer - support