How long does it take for colon cancer to progress from early to advanced stages?

　　The progression time of colon cancer from early to advanced stage is not fixed, typically ranging from 3 to 5 years, but varies greatly among individuals and is closely related to pathological type, tumor differentiation, and the patient's overall health. Tumors with high differentiation progress slowly, whereas those with low differentiation advance rapidly. A detailed analysis is as follows:

　　In early-stage colon cancer, the tumor is confined to the mucosa or submucosa. If it is a well-differentiated adenocarcinoma, the cells have low malignancy and grow slowly, potentially taking 5 years or longer to progress to an advanced stage. If detected and treated promptly at this stage, the 5-year survival rate can exceed 90%, and many patients may achieve clinical cure. However, some patients overlook symptoms such as rectal bleeding or abdominal pain, missing the optimal treatment window and accelerating disease progression.

　　Poorly differentiated or undifferentiated colon cancers exhibit rapid cell proliferation and strong invasiveness, possibly progressing to advanced stages within 2 to 3 years. Advanced tumors may invade surrounding tissues, causing symptoms such as bowel obstruction and worsening rectal bleeding, and may also develop distant metastases.

　　In daily life, maintaining a low-fat, high-fiber diet, reducing intake of processed meats, and undergoing regular colonoscopy screenings are recommended—especially for individuals with a family history of colon cancer. Early detection and intervention can effectively delay disease progression.