Stage IV colon cancer is difficult to treat. Stage IV cancers don't have a good prognosis as their relative survival rate for 5 years is about 11%. Colon cancer has four stages, with stage IV as the most severe stage because it means the cancer cells have spread (metastasized) to other organs like the liver (or lungs, lymph nodes, stomach or other organs). Although some individuals may show no symptoms when this spread occurs, other people may develop the following symptoms in addition to the symptoms they had or have with their colon cancer:
All of these symptoms may be caused by the spread of the colon cancer cells into the liver, thereby disrupting liver functions and/or killing liver cells. This information will focus on colon cancer that has metastasized to the liver. If any of the above symptoms develop, you should contact a doctor immediately. If any of the above symptoms were the result of your colon cancer, and the symptoms have gone into remission and now recurred, you should still contact your doctor immediately to determine if they are related directly to your colon cancer or due to it spread to the liver. Your doctor is likely to order liver function tests plus one or more imaging studies (CT, MRI, PET), and possibly a liver biopsy to confirm metastases of your colon cancer into the liver. What is the treatment for stage IV colon cancer that has spread to the liver?Stage IV colon cancer is difficult to treat. Stage IV cancers don't have a good prognosis as their relative survival rate for 5 years is about 11%. However, survival rates are only estimates do not predict what can happen in any individual. Consequently, the patient and their doctor(s) need to discuss how to approach this new problem of metastasis to the liver. Some people may even want to get a second opinion. However, there are still treatment options that may allow symptom reduction and perhaps increase the 5-year survival rate even with the spread of colon cancer to the liver, but there are no guarantees that this will happen. In fact, some of the drugs utilized specifically to treat metastatic colon cancer show that on the average, some lifespans were only increased by a few months. Basically, physicians attempt to treat metastatic colon cancer cells in the liver like colon cancer and not like liver cancer. The main treatment options are:
 SLIDESHOWColorectal Cancer: Symptoms, Signs, Screening, Stages See SlideshowTargeted therapiesTargeted therapies are therapies designed to damage and/or kill colon cancer cells wherever they occur by specifically directing designed drugs that act on certain receptors or surface chemicals present on the colon cancer cells. The drugs interact with the receptors or regulating proteins like vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) or epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), and cause changes in them that ultimately damage or kill colon cancer cells. Some of the drugs used in targeted therapies no matter where colon cancer cells are located are cetuximab, panitumumab and Stivarga (regorafenib). You and your doctors (the medical team) can decide what treatments, if any, are best for you as an individual. In addition, you and your doctors may wish to discuss the possibility of participating in a clinical study where the newest anticancer drugs are being developed. If you have further questions, especially if you would like to talk to a support group with people who have had to face the same problems you have, you and your family can contact the American Cancer Society, the Colon Cancer Foundation or other groups that may be located at your treatment center near your home. Health NewsReferences American Cancer Society. Colorectal Cancer." Updated May 24, 2017. How long can you live with colon cancer that has spread to liver?Richard Burkhart, a Johns Hopkins cancer surgeon and researcher, advancements in the treatment of liver tumors caused by colon cancer have improved survival rates drastically. In fact, 40-60 percent of patients treated for isolated colon cancer liver metastasis are still alive five years after treatment.
How long can a person live with Stage 4 colon and liver 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 Stage 4 colon cancer that has spread to the liver curable?This is referred to as metastatic (stage IV) colorectal cancer. Cure is not possible for most patients with metastatic colorectal cancer, although some patients who have limited involvement of distant organs (particularly restricted to the liver and/or lung) can be cured with surgery.
What happens if colon cancer spreads to the liver?When colon cancer works its way into the liver, you may not get any clear signs that it's happened. But if you do, the symptoms can range from pain and itching to tiredness and hiccups. Even if they can't cure the cancer, treatments like surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy can often give you relief.
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Life expectancy for stage 4 colon cancer spread to liver
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