Stage 3 Colon Cancer

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• QWhat are the characteristics of stage IIIC colorectal cancer?

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  A Dr. Vincent T DeVita Jr , Oncology, answered

  One of the following applies.
  T4a, N2a, M0: The cancer has grown through the wall of the colon or rectum (including the visceral peritoneum) but has not reached nearby organs. It has spread to 4 to 6 nearby lymph nodes. It has not spread to distant sites.
  T3-T4a, N2b, M0: The cancer has grown into the outermost layers of the colon or rectum (T3) or through the visceral peritoneum (T4a) but has not reached nearby organs. It has spread to 7 or more nearby lymph nodes. It has not spread to distant sites.
  T4b, N1-N2, M0: The cancer has grown through the wall of the colon or rectum and is attached to or has grown into other nearby tissues or organs. It has spread to 1 or more nearby lymph nodes or into areas of fat near the lymph nodes. It has not spread to distant sites.
• QWhat are the characteristics of stage IIIB colorectal cancer?

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  A Dr. Vincent T DeVita Jr , Oncology, answered

  One of the following applies.
  T3-T4a, N1, M0: The cancer has grown into the outermost layers of the colon or rectum (T3) or through the visceral peritoneum (T4a) but has not reached nearby organs. It has spread to 1 to 3 nearby lymph nodes (N1a/N1b) or into areas of fat near the lymph nodes but not the nodes themselves (N1c). It has not spread to distant sites.
  T2-T3, N2a, M0: The cancer has grown into the muscularis propria (T2) or into the outermost layers of the colon or rectum (T3). It has spread to 4 to 6 nearby lymph nodes. It has not spread to distant sites.
  T1-T2, N2b, M0: The cancer has grown through the mucosa into the submucosa (T1) or it may also have grown into the muscularis propria (T2). It has spread to 7 or more nearby lymph nodes. It has not spread to distant sites.
• QWhat are the characteristics of stage IIIA colorectal cancer?

  1 Answer

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  A Dr. Vincent T DeVita Jr , Oncology, answered

  T1-T2, N1, M0: The cancer has grown through the mucosa into the submucosa (T1) or it may also have grown into the muscularis propria (T2). It has spread to 1 to 3 nearby lymph nodes (N1a/N1b) or into areas of fat near the lymph nodes but not the nodes themselves (N1c). It has not spread to distant sites.
  T1, N2a, M0: The cancer has grown through the mucosa into the submucosa. It has spread to 4 to 6 nearby lymph nodes. It has not spread to distant sites.
• QWhat are the treatment options for stage III colon cancer?

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  A Reston Hospital Center answered

  Surgery is the most common treatment for stage III colon cancer. Chemotherapy can be used to target the cancer cells, and is most often used when the cancer has spread beyond the colon. Radiation therapy may also be used.

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• QWhat is stage III colon cancer?

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  A Reston Hospital Center answered

  Colon cancer is the abnormal growth of cells in the large intestine, which is also known as the colon. In stage III colon cancer, the cancer has spread beyond the colon wall and into the lymph nodes that reside nearby. Stage III colon cancer is a later, but still treatable, form of colon cancer.

• QWhat causes stage III colon cancer?

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  A Reston Hospital Center answered

  Although there are a number of risk factors that can increase someone's chances for developing colon cancer, the actual cause of stage III colon cancer is generally unknown. Something causes healthy cells to begin growing abnormally. In some people, these overgrown cell areas can become stage III colon cancer.

• QWhat are the symptoms of stage III colon cancer?

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  A Reston Hospital Center answered

  Colon cancer symptoms often center around the colon and digestive system. Rectal bleeding or bloody bowels for a few weeks are common. A person may also feel gassy or have painful cramps, and may feel like they cannot empty his/her bowel completely. They may also feel tired or weak and lose weight.

• QHow does stage III colon cancer affect the body?

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  A Reston Hospital Center answered

  Stage III colon cancer may have no symptoms and show no apparent affect on the body. In stage III colon cancer, the lymph nodes that reside nearby are infected. However, even stage III colon cancer can increase the risk of developing cancer - either another type or colon cancer again - later on in life. In the later stages of colon cancer, the cancer can spread beyond the rectum into other parts of the body. In the final stage of colon cancer, stage IV, the cancer has spread to other organs, such as the liver or lungs.

• QWhat increases my risk for stage III colon cancer?

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  A Reston Hospital Center answered

  A variety of lifestyle and heredity factors can increase your risk for stage III colon cancer. Older age; a high-fat, low-fiber diet; a lack of exercise; being obese; smoking; and drinking can all possibly increase your risk. In addition, a family history of colon cancer or polyps or a family history of certain genetic diseases such as Lynch syndrome can raise your risk. If you are diabetic, have an inflammatory intestinal disease, have had colon cancer or polyps previously, or had radiation therapy for previous cancers, your risk can also be raised. Lastly, stage III colon cancer risk is highest for African Americans.

• QHow is stage III colon cancer diagnosed?

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  A Reston Hospital Center answered

  Your doctor may use blood tests for more information, but blood tests alone cannot diagnose stage III colon cancer. Your doctor will most likely give you a colonoscopy, in which they use a tiny camera on the end of a tube to look at your colon. They may also use barium dye and x-rays, or computerized tomography (CT) scans to view your colon virtually.