Can late-stage colon cancer be completely removed by surgery?

Written by Yan Chun
Oncology
Updated on April 06, 2025
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In clinical practice, for patients with mid-to-late-stage colon cancer, even after curative surgical resection, it is often difficult to completely remove the tumor. This is because by the mid-to-late stages, the colon cancer has typically started to invade surrounding tissues. Despite curative surgery, patients may still have subclinical lesions, which are typically hard to detect either under a microscope or with the naked eye. The presence of these subclinical lesions leads to a higher likelihood of recurrence and metastasis after curative surgery in mid-to-late-stage colon cancer patients. Therefore, to reduce the rates of recurrence and metastasis, it is common clinical practice to administer adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy after the curative surgical resection for patients with mid-to-late-stage colon cancer, aiming to decrease the risk of cancer recurrence and metastasis.

Other Voices

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Written by Sun Wei
Surgical Oncology
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Is minimally invasive surgery suitable for transverse colon cancer?

Transverse colon cancer can also be considered for minimally invasive surgical treatment. The main procedure involves a complete resection of the transverse colon, and sometimes, it may require the resection of part of other organs. For instance, if the cancer has invaded the splenic region of the colon, a splenectomy may be necessary. If there is invasion into the liver area, partial liver resection may be needed. In cases where minimally invasive surgery is not suitable or inconvenient, it is also possible to switch to open surgery. The goal is to completely remove the tumor. Whether minimally invasive or traditional surgery is used, it is just a method of operation. Additionally, postoperative adjunct chemotherapy and other comprehensive treatments are necessary.

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Written by Yan Chun
Oncology
1min 7sec home-news-image

Can late-stage colon cancer be completely removed by surgery?

In clinical practice, for patients with mid-to-late-stage colon cancer, even after curative surgical resection, it is often difficult to completely remove the tumor. This is because by the mid-to-late stages, the colon cancer has typically started to invade surrounding tissues. Despite curative surgery, patients may still have subclinical lesions, which are typically hard to detect either under a microscope or with the naked eye. The presence of these subclinical lesions leads to a higher likelihood of recurrence and metastasis after curative surgery in mid-to-late-stage colon cancer patients. Therefore, to reduce the rates of recurrence and metastasis, it is common clinical practice to administer adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy after the curative surgical resection for patients with mid-to-late-stage colon cancer, aiming to decrease the risk of cancer recurrence and metastasis.

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Written by Sun Wei
Surgical Oncology
55sec home-news-image

Late stage survival of transverse colon cancer

Late-stage colon cancer can still potentially allow for a relatively long survival time, such as living more than one year, two years, or even three to five years. Of course, this also depends on the treatment provided. Generally, it may not be possible to perform curative surgery directly in the advanced stages, but preoperative neoadjuvant chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and so on, can be administered first. If these treatments can reduce the size of the tumor and lower its stage, there could still be a chance for surgical treatment later. Clinically, if there is no recurrence after more than five years, it is considered to have achieved a clinically curative effect. For instance, surpassing five years can possibly mean extending survival beyond ten years or even longer. However, treatment for late-stage patients needs to be adjusted as it proceeds, and it is impossible to specifically determine how long one can live.

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Written by Sun Wei
Surgical Oncology
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Can advanced colorectal cancer be cured?

Complete cure is often difficult to achieve in the middle and late stages of colorectal cancer. Of course, it is possible to control the progression of the lesion and then prolong survival. For middle and late-stage colorectal cancer, if the treatment is reasonable or effective, it is possible to survive for more than three years, five years, or even longer. Clinically, surviving more than five years without recurrence is considered a clinical cure. Of course, there is still a possibility of recurrence after five years, but the probability of recurrence will be much lower. If one can survive more than ten years, or even 20 years without recurrence, it is basically considered a cure, but regular check-ups are still necessary afterward, as it cannot be guaranteed that there will be no recurrence. For the middle and late stages of colorectal cancer, surgical treatment should be pursued whenever possible, followed by a combination of chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and targeted therapy after surgery.

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Written by Yan Chun
Oncology
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Is intermittent pain in the upper right abdomen for two months colon cancer?

Persistent dull pain in the upper right abdomen lasting two months is very likely a clinical symptom caused by colon cancer. This is often due to the lesion of colon cancer invading the intestinal mucosa, causing mucosal spasms and resulting in pain. Alternatively, the tumor may cause obstruction of the intestinal lumen, leading to intestinal obstruction, which also presents as pain clinically. This type of pain is generally characterized by persistent dull pain, especially more pronounced at night, and ordinary anti-inflammatory and analgesic drugs are less effective in relieving it. The pain will only subside after the lesions of colon cancer are effectively controlled. However, for dull pain in the upper right abdomen, some benign diseases, such as certain ulcerative colitis or chronic intestinal tuberculosis, should also be considered, as they can present with similar symptoms. To definitively diagnose whether the dull pain is caused by colon cancer or a benign colon condition, it is generally necessary to complete related imaging or hematological examinations. Sometimes, histopathological examinations are necessary to differentiate the diagnosis.