How long can one live after surgery for colon cancer?

The postoperative survival period for patients with colon cancer is closely related to the stage of their disease. Prognosis varies significantly across different stages.

Patients with stage I colon cancer generally have a favorable prognosis. Since the tumor is confined to the inner lining of the intestine and has not spread, the postoperative recurrence rate is relatively low, and the likelihood of survival is high. As a result, most stage I patients achieve long-term survival after surgical treatment, with a five-year survival rate that accounts for the majority, meaning most patients live more than five years after surgery. As the disease progresses to stage II, median survival decreases to approximately four years.

However, when the disease advances to stage III, median survival further shortens to 2–3 years. This is because tumor spread and invasion increase surgical difficulty and reduce treatment effectiveness. Therefore, for patients with colon cancer, early diagnosis and treatment are crucial for improving outcomes.