[MOL] Colon Cancer Educational Series: 3 of 3 End [01601]

Colon Cancer Stages

Once cancer of the colon is found (diagnosed), more tests will be done to find out if cancer cells have spread to other parts of the body (staging). In order to stage colon cancer, a surgical procedure will need to be performed. Knowing the stage of the disease will assist the doctor in effectively planning further treatment. The following stages are used for cancer of the colon:

Stage 0 or carcinoma in situ: Stage 0 cancer of the colon is very early cancer. The cancer is found only in the innermost lining of the colon.

Stage I: The cancer has spread beyond the innermost lining of the colon to the second and third layers and involves the inside wall of the colon, but has not spread to the outer wall of the colon or outside the colon.

Stage I colon cancer is sometimes called Dukes A colon cancer.

Stage II: Cancer has spread outside the colon to nearby tissue, but it has not gone into the lymph nodes. (Lymph nodes are small, bean-shaped structures that are found throughout the body. They produce and store cells that fight infection.)

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

Stage III: Cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes, but it has not spread to other parts of the body. (Lymph nodes are small, bean-shaped structures that are found throughout the body. They produce and store cells that fight infection.)

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

Stage IV: Cancer has spread to other parts of the body.

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

Recurrent: Recurrent disease means that the cancer has come back (recurred) after it has been treated. It may come back in the colon or in another part of the body. Recurrent cancer of the colon is often found in the liver and/or lungs.