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It is important to know the stage of a cancer in order to plan treatment. STAGES OF COLORECTAL CANCER
Colon Cancer Stage 0 (Carcinoma in Situ) The cancer is found only in the innermost lining of the colon. Stage 0 cancer is also called carcinoma in situ. Stage I The cancer has spread beyond the innermost tissue layer of the colon wall to the middle layers. Stage I colon cancer is sometimes called Dukes´ A colon cancer. Stage II It is divided into stage IIA and stage IIB.
Stage II colon cancer is sometimes called Dukes' B colon cancer. Stage III It is divided into stage IIIA, stage IIIB, and stage IIIC.
Stage III colon cancer is sometimes called Dukes' C colon cancer. Stage IV Cancer may have 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.
Rectal Cancer Stage 0 (Carcinoma in situ) Cancer is found only in the innermost lining of the rectum. Stage 0 cancer is also called carcinoma in situ. Stage I The cancer has spread beyond the innermost lining of the rectum to the second and third layers and involves the inside wall of the rectum, but it has not spread to the outer wall of the rectum or outside the rectum. Stage I rectal cancer is sometimes called Dukes´ A rectal cancer. Stage II Cancer has spread outside the rectum to nearby tissue, but it has not gone into the lymph nodes (small, bean-shaped structures found throughout the body that filter substances in a fluid called lymph and help fight infection and disease). Stage II rectal cancer is sometimes called Dukes´ B rectal cancer. Stage III Cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes, but it has not spread to other parts of the body. Stage III rectal cancer is sometimes called Dukes´ C rectal cancer. Stage IV Cancer has spread to other parts of the body, such as the liver, lungs, or ovaries. Stage IV rectal cancer is sometimes called Dukes´ D rectal cancer.
Reference: National Cancer Institute, USA.
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