Colon cancer is one of the types of cancers that begins in one part of the body and then spreads to other parts or organs creating secondary tumors. These tumors are named metastasis and they can be developed from the initial tumors, on the lungs, liver, on bones or even brain, although this last case is the most uncommon one.



The original tumor, the first one developed in the colon, is called primary tumor or primary cancer. But this tumor is not a static one. It grows if there is not treatment applied. When growing the cancerous tumors pierce the colon wall and make their way to the blood or lymph system. The lymphatic system is the system that produces, stores, and carries the cells that fight infections. The reason way cancer brakes from its primary location and affects the bloodstream or lymphatic system is that in this way it can spread in the body. Metastasized colon cancer can spread to any part of the body and affect any organs. However, the most common organs affected by this type of cancer metastases are the liver and the lungs.

This is the last stage of the disease, also called colon cancer stage 4 and in this phase a new tumor is formed on other organ than the colon area. The metastasized colon cancer tumors are not in the immediate area of the colon, they are placed in organs which are far form the colon.

In this last stage, colon cancer can have some symptoms that will indicate you that something is wrong. However, symptoms do not often occur in the first colon cancer stages and this is way in many cases, the cancer is diagnosed in this last stage. Unfortunately, now the chances of cure are the lowest, and as soon discovered, colon cancer is easiest to treat. The symptoms determined by the cancer spread depend on the exact location of the new tumor. So, if cancer spreads to the bones, it is very possible that you will bones pain and sometimes even bones fractures.

When colon cancer spreads to the lungs, you may feel a difficulty in breathing and you may cough all the time, sometimes even with blood. If the metastasis is created on the liver symptoms may include abdominal swelling or jaundice. In some cases the cancer is discovered only when the metastases symptoms occur. This happens unfortunately often in colon cancer case, because the disease can have no symptoms in the first stages, and so the cancer is diagnosed late and determines in many cases the patients’ death. The exact location and the number of the metastases created form the primary tumor is an important factor on this matter.