Understanding the Stages of Colorectal Cancer

The American Cancer Society forecasts that over 53,000 people will die from colon cancer in 2020. While this is an alarming number, a colon cancer diagnosis can be managed and treated if caught early enough. Cancer occurs when the tissue in a part of your body multiplies out of control. Named for the part of the body that is first affected, colorectal cancer is a malignant growth in the lining of your colon or rectum. When the components of your body that control the rate at which tissue multiplies malfunction, the affected cells continue to grow and impact surrounding tissue. Because cancers develop over time and at varying rates, there are different stages that identify the development and progress of the disease. The stage of any given cancer will dictate the available treatment options.