Clinical trials play an important role in improving cancer prevention, diagnosis and treatment. For some patients, taking part may offer access to new therapies that are not yet widely available. Your care team can help determine whether a clinical trial may be an option and explain what participation involves.
What is Colon Cancer?
Colon cancer is often grouped with rectal cancer under the umbrella term colorectal cancer, which refers to cancers that develop in the large intestine. While these diseases share many characteristics, they occur in different parts of the intestine, can cause different symptoms and require different treatments.
Colon cancer affects the first four to five feet of the large intestine. It typically develops from polyps— small growths in the intestinal lining that can become cancerous over time.
Because polyps can be found and removed before cancer develops, routine screening is one of the most effective ways to prevent colon cancer or detect it at an earlier, more treatable stage.
Whether you're considering screening, experiencing symptoms or navigating a diagnosis, our specialists can help you make informed decisions about your care.
Colon Cancer Symptoms
Colon cancer may not cause symptoms in its earliest stages. As the disease progresses, you may notice changes in bowel habits or other digestive symptoms such as:
- Diarrhea or constipation
- A feeling that the bowel does not empty completely
- Narrower-than-normal stools
- Blood in the stool, which may appear bright red or very dark
- Abdominal pain, cramping, bloating or excess gas
- Nausea or vomiting
- Unexplained weight loss
- Ongoing fatigue
Colon Cancer Screening
Routine screening can detect precancerous polyps and colon cancer before symptoms develop, when treatment is often most effective.
Most adults at average risk should begin screening at age 45. People with a family history of colorectal cancer, certain hereditary conditions or other risk factors may need to begin screening earlier or be screened more frequently.
Your provider will help determine when screening should begin and which test is right for you.
Stool-Based Tests
These tests look for signs of blood or abnormal DNA in the stool that may indicate polyps or colon cancer. Some tests can be completed at home and may include fecal occult blood testing (FOBT), fecal immunochemical testing (FIT) or stool DNA testing such as Cologuard®.
Colonoscopy
A colonoscopy uses a flexible, lighted tube to examine the entire colon and rectum. During the procedure, your provider can identify abnormal areas, collect tissue samples for testing and remove polyps.
Flexible Sigmoidoscopy
This procedure is similar to a colonoscopy but focuses on the rectum and lower portion of the colon. A sigmoidoscopy can identify polyps, cancer and other abnormalities and may be used when a full colonoscopy is not needed.
How Colon Cancer is Diagnosed
If screening identifies an abnormality—or if symptoms suggest colon cancer—additional testing may be needed to confirm a diagnosis and guide treatment planning.
Colonoscopy
Colonoscopy is often the primary diagnostic test for colon cancer. It gives your provider a detailed view of the colon and rectum and can be used to identify abnormal areas, collect tissue samples for testing and remove polyps.
Biopsy
A biopsy is the only way to confirm colon cancer. During a biopsy, suspicious tissue is removed and examined under a microscope for cancer cells.
Imaging Tests
Imaging may be used to determine the size and location of a tumor and whether cancer has spread beyond the colon. Tests may include:
- CT (computed tomography)
- MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)
- PET scan
Blood Tests
Blood tests can provide information about your overall health and help your care team monitor how the cancer is responding to treatment. They can also measure tumor markers such as CEA (carcinoembryonic antigen) that are sometimes elevated in colon cancer.
Colon Cancer Treatment Options
No two cases of colon cancer are exactly alike. At LifeBridge Health, colorectal surgeons, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, gastroenterologists and other specialists work together to develop a personalized treatment plan.
This plan may include:
Surgery
Surgery is often the primary treatment for colon cancer. Precancerous polyps or very early-stage cancers can sometimes be removed during a colonoscopy. More advanced tumors may require surgery to remove part of the colon, nearby lymph nodes or both.
The goal is to remove all visible cancer while preserving as much normal bowel function as possible.
In many cases, the healthy portions of the intestine can be reconnected after the affected section is removed. When that is not possible, the surgeon may create a temporary or permanent opening in the abdomen, called an ostomy, that allows waste to leave the body and be collected in a special bag.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy uses medications to destroy cancer cells or slow their growth. It may be used before surgery, after surgery or to treat cancer that has spread beyond the colon.
For some patients whose colon cancer has spread to the liver, hepatic arterial infusion (HAI) pump therapy may be an option. This treatment delivers chemotherapy directly to the liver, allowing for higher doses to the tumor while limiting exposure to the rest of the body.
LifeBridge Health partners with Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and Johns Hopkins to provide this treatment. The pump is placed at those centers, with ongoing therapy provided locally.
Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy uses high-energy beams to destroy cancer cells. While it is used more commonly for rectal cancer than colon cancer, it may be recommended in certain situations as part of a coordinated treatment plan.
Advanced techniques such as 4D CT imaging and gated radiation delivery can account for normal organ movement during treatment, allowing radiation to be delivered more precisely while helping protect nearby organs and healthy tissue.
Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy helps the immune system recognize and attack cancer cells. It may be used for certain advanced colon cancers, particularly those with specific genetic or molecular features.
Clinical Trials
Supportive Services
When you receive cancer care at LifeBridge Health, you have access to supportive services like counseling, integrative therapies and support groups. These resources are designed to help patients care for their physical and emotional well‑being throughout treatment and beyond.