What should be done after the complete removal of colon cancer?

Written by Cui Fang Bo

Oncology

Updated on March 29, 2025

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After surgical removal of colon cancer, the postoperative treatment strategy should be determined based on the precise staging of the cancer according to the surgical pathology. If the colon cancer has invaded the mucosal layer and the submucosal layer, or the muscular layer, it is staged as stage I; postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy is not required, and regular follow-up is sufficient. If the colon cancer reaches stage II or III, postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy is needed to reduce the risk of postoperative recurrence and metastasis. Stage IV colon cancer does not fall under the aforementioned conditions of clean removal of the cancer.

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Is dry, pellet-like stool a symptom of colon cancer?

Dry, granular stools are not necessarily symptoms of colon cancer, but patients with colon cancer may also experience dry, granular stools. Therefore, after exhibiting the above symptoms, patients need to promptly complete an electronic colonoscopy to confirm the diagnosis of the disease. For example, if the symptoms are due to colon cancer, aggressive surgical treatment should be taken, followed by comprehensive treatment including radiotherapy and chemotherapy. If the symptoms are due to functional indigestion causing constipation, treatment should involve using medications to regulate the intestinal flora and relieve constipation.

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What is the likelihood of metastasis for colon cancer with a certain Ki-67 index?

Currently, the Ki67 index in colon cancer cannot be used as a predictive factor for metastasis. Ki67 reflects the proliferation index of the tumor and is related to the malignancy level of the tumor, but it is not possible to judge the risk of subsequent metastasis based on the Ki67 value. The factors that can be used to assess the risk of postoperative metastasis in colon cancer mainly include the depth of local invasion of the colon cancer, whether there is lymph node metastasis, and the presence of certain specific gene mutations. The deeper the invasion, the higher the risk of metastasis. Patients with lymph node metastasis have a higher risk of distant recurrence and metastasis compared to those without detected lymph node metastasis.

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Early symptoms of colon cancer

Colon cancer often does not have obvious symptoms in its early stages, and of course, the specific situation needs to be analyzed on a case-by-case basis, as it varies from person to person. As the disease progresses, some clinical symptoms may appear. The first one is changes in bowel habits and stool characteristics; there might be blood in the stool, changes such as an increased frequency of defecation, urgency followed by a feeling of incomplete evacuation, and a sensation of rectal fullness, along with possible changes in the shape or thinning of the stool. The second possible symptom is abdominal pain, which may also be accompanied by a feeling of bloating or abdominal discomfort. The third possibility is the symptoms of intestinal obstruction, which include cessation of bowel movements and passing gas. The fourth is that a mass may be felt in the abdomen. The fifth point is that some individuals, especially those in poor health, may experience symptoms of nutritional depletion from the tumor, such as anemia, weight loss, and fatigue. If there is early metastasis, symptoms corresponding to the metastasis may also appear.

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Written by Quan Xiang Mei

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Can baby's stool with blood be colon cancer?

Blood in the stool of babies is different from that in adults. In infants and young children, due to weaker gastrointestinal digestive functions, inappropriate feeding, changes in diet structure, or abnormal gastrointestinal functions can all lead to the presence of blood in the stool, which is usually not due to colon cancer. Therefore, if a child has persistent blood in their stool accompanied by either no weight gain or weight loss, or other abnormal symptoms, and if there is a suspicion of cancer-related factors, parents should promptly take the child to a hospital for a thorough examination. In most cases, blood in a baby's stool is commonly due to poor digestion of the gastrointestinal tract or from gastroenteritis caused by viruses or bacteria due to an increase in the frequency of bowel movements, or it could be due to severe constipation in the baby, where factors like anal fissures might also lead to blood in the stool.

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Written by Cui Fang Bo

Oncology

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Is stage II-III colon cancer considered late stage?

Patients with stage II and III colon cancer are not yet considered to be in the classic advanced stages. Current oncology believes that colon cancer is categorized as stage IV and considered advanced when distant metastases occur. Common sites of metastasis for colon cancer include the liver, lungs, and bones. Stage II colon cancer patients do not have metastases to the pericolic lymph nodes, which is relatively early; stage III colon cancer patients have metastases to the pericolic lymph nodes, which is later than stage II, but as long as there are no distant metastases, it does not reach the advanced stage IV.