Colorectal Cancer Staging

Colorectal Cancer Program

Colorectal Cancer Staging

Staging is a way to describe the extent or severity of a person’s cancer. It is based on the extent of the primary tumor and how much the tumor has spread. Staging is an important step:

Helps your physician team plan your treatment
Can be used to help predict outcomes
Can pinpoint clinical trials for which a patient may be eligible

Stage 0
Abnormal cells are found in the innermost lining of the colon or rectum. These abnormal cells may become cancer and spread into nearby normal tissue. Stage 0 is also called carcinoma in situ.

Stage I
Cancer has formed and spread beyond the innermost tissue layer of the colon or rectum 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 stage IIB. Stage II colon cancer is sometimes called Dukes B colon cancer.

Stage IIA cancer has spread beyond the middle tissue layers of the colon or rectum wall or has spread to nearby tissues around the colon or rectum.

Stage IIB cancer has spread beyond the colon or rectum wall into nearby organs and/or through the peritoneum.

Stage III
Colon cancer is divided into stage IIIA, stage IIIB and stage IIIC. Stage III colon cancer is sometimes called Dukes C colon cancer.

Stage IIIA cancer has spread from the innermost tissue layer of the colon or rectum wall to the middle layers and has spread to as many as three lymph nodes

Stage IIIB cancer has spread to as many as three nearby lymph nodes and has spread:

Beyond the middle tissue layers of the colon or rectum wall
To nearby tissues around the colon or rectum
Beyond the colon or rectum wall into nearby organs and/or through the peritoneum

Stage IIIC: Cancer has spread to four or more nearby lymph nodes and has spread:

To or beyond the middle tissue layers of the colon or rectum wall
To nearby tissues around the colon or rectum
To nearby organs and/or through the peritoneum.

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.

Last Review Date: July 12, 2010

Monthly articles about the health topics of your choice!

Find a Doctor

Get Directions

Request an Appointment