As the name suggests this kind of cancer takes place in the cells of the colon. Statistics reveal that colon cancer affects about 11,000 people in the U.S every year. Some health experts are of the opinion that rectum cancers are one group which is called colorectal cancer while there are others who are of the opinion that colon and rectal cancers are two separate groups.

Stages of Colon Cancer

Once a person has been diagnosed with cancer of the colon the physician needs to stage the disease since this helps the physician to determine the extent of the ailment and how much it has spread. Colon cancer staging helps an oncologist decide what treatment is best for the patient. Colon cancer stages can be determined through tests like a PET, MRI and CT scan. The carcinoembryonic antigen test also helps determine the same.

Stage 0

Carcinoma in sutu is the term used to describe the cancer at this stage. If any abnormal cells are found in an individual’s colon then it falls under stage 0. The abnormal cells in this case might be cancerous or they might become cancerous. In another scenario the cells might just be benign and pose no threat to the person.

Stage 1

In this colon cancer stage cancer has formed and slowly found its way outside the inner layer of the colon. Here colon cancer may be present in the second or third layer of the tissue in the colon wall. Luckily at this stage the colon cancer has not spread to the outer wall of the colon.

Stage 2

This stage of colon cancer can be subdivided into two stages 2A and 2B.

2A - This colon cancer stage refers to cancer that has spread from the middle layers of tissue in the colon wall into perhaps the surrounding tissues in the colon or near the rectum.

2B - In this stage of colon cancer the cancer has spread from the colon wall into the organs that are located in the region of the colon. It may also spread to the abdominal wall of the patient.

Stage 3

Colon cancer staging 3 can be subdivided into three other stages 3A, 3B and 3C.

3A - This stage refers to cancer that has spread from the inner tissue into the middle layers and is no less than three lymph nodes.

3B - In this stage of colon cancer the cancer is present in at least three lymph nodes and has also expanded to the surrounding organs, tissues and may also be the abdominal wall.

3C - Cancer at this stage has spread to four or more lymph nodes as also the surroundings organs, tissues and may be even the abdominal wall.

Stage 4

When cancer has reached this stage it has entered the lymph nodes close to the colon and has also spread to organs that are located much further away. It is through the bloodstream and lymph system that cancer spreads.