Colon Cancer Facts: Cancer Center: UI Health Topics

Colon Cancer Facts

Stages of Colon Cancer

Peer Review Status: Internally Reviewed by Cancer Center Staff
Creation Date: September 2003
Last Revision Date: October 2006

The tests listed above will also determine the stage of the cancer. The stage of colon cancer tells how big the tumor is, how deep it is, and if it has spread to another part of the body. The treatment of cancer is given according to the stage of the disease. The stage also gives information on the overall outlook of the cancer-whether it can be cured. The lower stages have the best outlook.

Stage 0— the cancer is found in the inner most lining of the colon only. This stage is also called "carcinoma in situ".

Stage I— the cancer has spread beyond the inner most tissue layer of the colon wall to the middle layers. Stage I colon cancer is sometimes called Dukes' A colon cancer.

Stage II— colon cancer is divided into stage IIA and IIB

Stage IIA: Cancer has spread beyond the middle tissue layers of the colon wall or has spread to nearby tissues around the colon or rectum.
Stage IIB: Cancer has spread beyond the colon wall into nearby organs and/or through the peritoneum.

Stage II colon cancer is sometimes called Dukes' B colon cancer.

Stage III— colon cancer is divided into stage IIIA, stage IIIB, and IIIC.

Stage IIIA: Cancer has spread from the innermost tissue layer of the colon wall to the middle layers and has spread to as many as 3 lymph nodes.
Stage IIIB: Cancer has spread to as many as 3 nearby lymph nodes and has spread
- beyond the middle tissue layers of the colon wall; or
- to nearby tissues around the colon or rectum; or
- beyond the colon wall into nearby organs and or through the peritoneum.
Stage IIIC: Cancer has spread to 4 or more lymph nodes and has spread:
- to or beyond the middle tissue layers of the colon wall; or
- to nearby tissues around the colon or rectum; or
- to nearby organs and/or through the peritoneum.

Stage III colon cancer is sometimes called Dukes' C colon cancer.

Stage IV— cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes and has spread to other parts of the body, such as the liver or lungs.

Stage IV colon cancer is sometimes called Dukes' D colon cancer.

Recurrent colon cancer— is cancer that has recurred (come back) after it has been treated. The cancer may come back in the colon or in other parts of the body, such as the liver, lungs, or both.

Last modification date: Tue May 1 13:04:48 2007
URL: http://www.uihealthcare.com /topics/medicaldepartments/cancercenter/coloncancerfacts/stages.html