What is the longest someone has lived with Stage 4 colon cancer?

Suzanne Lindley has been living with metastatic colorectal cancer since 1998.

What are the signs of end stage colon cancer?

Symptoms

• Blood (usually dark red or black) in the stool.
• Constipation and diarrhea. These can also be symptoms of other, less serious conditions.
• Long, thin, pencil-like stools.
• Fatigue and weakness.
• Abdominal pain or bloating.
• Unexplained weight loss.
• Nausea and vomiting, which may happen if the tumor causes an obstruction.

Can Stage 4 colon cancer go into remission?

It often spreads to the liver, but it can also spread to the lungs, brain, peritoneum (the lining of the abdominal cavity), or lymph nodes. A cure where the cancer is totally eradicated and will never return is rare at stage 4. However, remission, where symptoms are reduced or gone for a time, is possible.

How long does it take for someone to die from colon cancer?

Almost 10% of people diagnosed with colorectal cancer die within one month of diagnosis. 56% of people dying within one month are 80 or more years old. 60% of early deaths present initially as emergency cases to hospital.

Can you live 10 years with stage 4 colon cancer?

Stage IV colon cancer has a relative 5-year survival rate of about 14%. This means that about 14% of people with stage IV colon cancer are likely to still be alive 5 years after they are diagnosed. But you‘re not a number. No one, including your doctor, can tell you exactly how long you‘ll live.

Is Chemo Effective for Stage 4 colon cancer?

If the colon cancer has spread too far for surgery to be effective, chemotherapy is the primary treatment option. Most people with stage 4 colon cancer will receive chemotherapy or specific targeted therapies to help control the cancer progression or symptoms.

What is the final stage of colon cancer?

Symptoms at the end of life can include periods of confusion, agitation, and even hallucinations. Your loved one may see insects in the room, angels, or even people that you cannot see. They may not recognize you or may seem upset and out of sorts for no apparent reason.

What are the first signs of your body shutting down?

You may notice their:

• Eyes tear or glaze over.
• Pulse and heartbeat are irregular or hard to feel or hear.
• Body temperature drops.
• Skin on their knees, feet, and hands turns a mottled bluish-purple (often in the last 24 hours)
• Breathing is interrupted by gasping and slows until it stops entirely.

Is dying from colon cancer painful?

Not everyone dying of cancer has pain. But if they do, it can usually be well controlled and people can be kept very comfortable. The doctors and nurses looking after the dying person will do all they can. Sometimes restlessness is a sign of being in pain.

Is Stage 4 colon cancer beatable?

Stage 4 colon CANcer free

“Stage 4 colon cancer isn’t always terminal,” Gupta says. “A proportion of patients, especially those with limited liver disease, do very well and can be potentially cured.”

How long does chemo last for Stage 4 colon cancer?

Adjuvant or neoadjuvant chemo is often given for a total of 3 to 6 months, depending on the drugs used. The length of treatment for advanced colorectal cancer depends on how well it is working and what side effects you have.

How long does it take for colon cancer to metastasize?

They don’t need to acquire any new genetic mutations to become metastatic. The research also suggests that once a colon carcinoma develops, if it is going to spread outside the colon, it will do so in less than two years.

Can a dying person cry?

It’s uncommon, but it can be difficult to watch when it happens. Instead of peacefully floating off, the dying person may cry out and try to get out of bed. Their muscles might twitch or spasm. We squirm and cry out coming into the world, and sometimes we do the same leaving it.

What is the last organ to shut down when you die?

Definitely not. The brain and nerve cells require a constant supply of oxygen and will die within a few minutes, once you stop breathing. The next to go will be the heart, followed by the liver, then the kidneys and pancreas, which can last for about an hour.

Can you smell death coming?

The brain is the first organ to begin to break down, and other organs follow suit. Living bacteria in the body, particularly in the bowels, play a major role in this decomposition process, or putrefaction. This decay produces a very potent odor. “Even within a half hour, you can smell death in the room,” he says.