Stages of Colon Polyps
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Initial Polyp and the Inner Colon
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A colon polyp forms when a group of cells continue to divide faster than old cells die off. The cells form a single mass called a polyp. When the polyp protrudes from the colon wall to the inside of the colon, medical science considers it a polyp. Colon polyps prelude cancer. Colon cancer occurs in five stages numbered zero to four. The first two stages, zero and one, denote when the polyp protrudes into the inside of the large intestine. Stage One indicates attachment to the inside wall of the colon. During this time, the polyp can be removed without strong likelihood of it regrowing. According to the Colon Cancer Association, a regular colonoscopy remains the best preventive measure against the early stages of colon cancer.
Outer Colon and Lymph Nodes
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The polyp, when it reaches the middle and outer layers of the colon, reaches stages two and three. It poses a serious threat on the outer layers; lymph nodes on the outside of the colon can lose function. Cayuga Community College states that lymph nodes produce white blood cells to fight off infection. The colon contains high concentrations of fecal matter, which provide bacteria a breeding ground.
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Final Stages
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Colon cancer, once it passes the lymph nodes of the colon, reaches its final stages. It spreads outward to other organs of the body. Usually, the liver or lungs show signs of infection first. Even if surgeons remove the original tumor from the colon, the difficulty lies in finding the full extent of the infection. Even leaving a tiny portion of cancerous tissue anywhere does not cause the cancer to go into remission.
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