A prognosis is the prediction of the probable course and outcome of a disease. When a person has colon cancer, he or she may ask about his or her colon cancer prognosis so the future can be planned accordingly.
The prognosis is based on a number of factors like the type and location of the cancer and the stage it was detected. Other factors that may affect it are the patient’s age, response to treatment, and general health. Before a doctor can come up with a prognosis, he will review statistics from other cases and focus especially on survival rates. This may be helpful in giving the patient the idea of what is likely to happen in his or her condition. However, it is important to remember that a prognosis is only a prediction based on the current facts available. No doctor, however good he is, can say for certain what exactly is going to happen to a patient.
Why is it important for a person to know about his or her colon cancer prognosis?
· To plan for treatment – If treatment is an option, there are many things that the patient and the family should consider. They have to decide on which hospital they would go to (preferably one that’s near their house) and how much they are going to spend. They also have to make a tentative schedule and decide who could go with the patient on tentative treatment dates.
· To plan for lifestyle changes – What are the necessary steps to take to maintain a healthier body? How could the patient be taken care of? These questions must be answered to be able to help the patient cope with his or her illness.
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