Colon Cancer
Growing up, I barely knew my grandfather. He left my grandmother when I was only 10 and when he was around, he was a very unpleasant man. He was angry most of the time and always complaining. Once I became a teenager and asked my family about him, no one really wanted to talk about it. They would just tell stories about his bad attitude and that it was probably better for everyone that he had left.
Towards the end of 2010, my grandfather reached out to my family to let us know he was dying of colon cancer. Its one thing to hear the news about someone dying from this disease but it was even more difficult because the news was coming from a man who hadn't been seen in decades. I did feel sorry for him and I didn't want him to be in pain, so my first reaction was to find out more about colon cancer and how it was affecting my grandfather. The more I read, the more I could relate to what he had been going through lately.
Colon cancer has 4 stages and is often rated using the Duke's system. For example, you could hear someone say "Stage 1" and that would be the equivalent of "Duke's A cancer."
Towards the end of 2010, my grandfather reached out to my family to let us know he was dying of colon cancer. Its one thing to hear the news about someone dying from this disease but it was even more difficult because the news was coming from a man who hadn't been seen in decades. I did feel sorry for him and I didn't want him to be in pain, so my first reaction was to find out more about colon cancer and how it was affecting my grandfather. The more I read, the more I could relate to what he had been going through lately.
Colon cancer has 4 stages and is often rated using the Duke's system. For example, you could hear someone say "Stage 1" and that would be the equivalent of "Duke's A cancer."
STAGE 0
This is the earliest stage possible and is also called carcinoma in situ. "Carcinoma" refers to cancer that starts in epithelial tissue and "in situ" means original position or place. Colon cancer is considered stage 0 when it hasn't moved from where it started; it's still restricted to the innermost lining of the colon.
STAGE 1
In this stage, cancer has extended beyond the innermost layer of the colon into the middle layers of the colon. Stage 1 used to be called Duke's A colon cancer.
STAGE 2
This used to be called Duke's B colon cancer. Colon cancer is considered stage 2 after it moves beyond the middle layers of the colon. Sometimes colon cancer is still considered stage 2 after it has extended into nearby organs.
STAGE 3
If colon cancer is found in at least three lymph nodes, it has reached stage 3 (formerly called Duke's C colon cancer).
STAGE 4
Formerly referred to as Duke's D colon cancer, stage 4 is the most advanced colon cancer stage. In general, stage 4 colon cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes and other parts of the body. Common destinations include the liver and the lungs.
By the time my grandfather told us about his condition, he was already into stage 4. We barely had enough time to say our goodbyes and make peace with him before his passing. We do know the cancer spread quickly and he didn't have much time after his original diagnosis but my family still wishes he would have contacted us sooner. Just another reminder that life is short but that certain things can help prolong it. Please, visit your doctor often and look out for risk factors. Don't wait until its too late...