How long does colon cancer take to develop from stage to stage? how long have you had it by the time you can see it?

Controversial: Colon cancer would start as microscopic cells that are unable to be detected by any test. Some reports suggest that a colon cancer has been present for 20 years or more before even a small tumor can be seen and located. The cell type and tumor dna tell more about how fast it may grow, invade, or spread once the tumor forms. So changes from one stage to another is highly variable.

Stage 1-4: There are guidelines that we follow. Is not about how long it takes. Is about doing ct of chest, abd-pelvis every 2-3 months, doing CEA levels, deciding on the chemotherapy needs, or radiation, or surgery, etc . Rule of thumb, oncologists do survellance every 3 months. Treat based on the stage and condition of patient.

A long time: Colon cancer is unusual in that it follows the "polyp-to-cancer" sequence. Colon cancer does NOT develop with a single genetic mistake from normal to full blown cancer like many others (breast, prostate). The process usually takes an average of 12 years. From stage to stage is probably a couple of years, The recent hullaballoo at the VA demonstrated that even a one year wait may not matter!