Sigmoid colon adenocarcinoma: 9 years from diagnosis to treatment.

Colon adenocarcinoma represents the third most frequent cause of death by cancer, being surpassed only by lung or stomach cancer, and it has motivated many studies in the past 5 decades. The probable diagnosis is usually based on clinical data, which mainly comprise anemia, low digestive tract bleeding, abdominal pain, and weight loss. Over the last 20 years, colonoscopy became the main investigative tool for colon cancer diagnosis, allowing visualization and biopsy of diverse colonic lesions and frequently the removal of benign or malignant polyps. At present, once the diagnosis of colon cancer is confirmed, whenever endoscopic resection is not feasible, surgical treatment is prescribed and not postponed. Colon tumor recurrence has been reported in 25% to 30% of patients undergoing surgery for stage II (AJCC) and in up to 60% for stage III (AJCC) colon cancer. Therefore, for these patients, chemotherapy and radiotherapy are frequently indicated after surgical treatment. The overall 5-year survival rate for patients with colon cancer has been reported to be up to 65%. However, in the reviewed literature there was no report on the survival of patients with diagnosed colon cancer who did not undergo surgery, chemotherapy, or radiotherapy.