Stage 3 colon cancer is classified as stage 3A, 3B, and 3C as follows: 3A stage. Stage III Cancer has spread from the innermost layer, the mucosa, through the adjacent layers of the wall (submucosa and the muscle layer) and into nearby lymph nodes (small organs that are part of the immune system). According to the The stage of colon cancer will affect your outlook. As colon cancer progresses, it can grow through your colon and extend to nearby structures. An examination of your entire colon using a long, flexible tube equipped with a camera (colonoscopy) is one way to detect colon cancer and polyps.Colon cancer is a type of cancer that begins in the large intestine (colon). A cell's DNA contains a set of instructions that tell a cell what to do.Healthy cells grow and divide in an orderly way to keep your body functioning normally. It has not spread to the lymph nodes.In stage 2 colon cancer, the disease is a little more advanced than stage 1 and has grown beyond the mucosa and the submucosa of the colon. If colon cancer develops, many treatments are available to help control it, including surgery, radiation therapy and drug treatments, such as chemotherapy, targeted therapy and immunotherapy. The colon is the final part of the digestive tract.Colon cancer typically affects older adults, though it can happen at any age. A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only. Immediately following surgery, Melinda underwent chemotherapy, which has resulted in a positive outcome. It's divided into 3 groups - 3A, 3B and 3C. Although it can vary, low-grade cancers tend to grow slower than high-grade cancer. Our website services, content, and products are for informational purposes only. But, she faced some challenges. If you’ve been diagnosed with colon cancer, one of the first things your doctor will want to determine is the stage of your cancer. Stage 3 colon cancer as described by the American Cancer Society is broken down into three sub-stages. Therefore, life expectancy is usually discussed as survival rates, the percentage of people who live for a specified period of time after diagnosis and treatment.Colon cancer, also referred to as colorectal cancer, is the uncontrolled growth of cancer cells in the lining of the colon. Stage 3 colon cancer as described by the American Cancer Society is broken down into three sub-stages Colon cancer that has reached stage 3 will likely induce symptoms that you can detect. But when a cell's DNA is damaged and becomes cancerous, cells continue to divide — even when new cells aren't needed. Chemotherapy is used after surgery in many colon cancers which are stage II, III, and IV as it has been shown that it increases the survival rates. Copyright © 2020 Leaf Group Ltd., all rights reserved. Stage 3a is when the cancer has grown into the submucosa of the lining and has spread to up to 3 lymph nodes. Cancer has spread through the mucosa of the colon wall to the submucosa and may have spread to the muscle layer, and has spread to one to three nearby lymph nodes or tissues near the lymph nodes.

If you are experiencing serious medical symptoms, seek emergency treatment immediately. Over time some of these polyps can become colon cancers.Polyps may be small and produce few, if any, symptoms. People diagnosed with stage 1 and 2 colon cancer generally have the highest survival rates.Remember, the stage of colon cancer is not the only thing that determines survival rates. "Mayo," "Mayo Clinic," "MayoClinic.org," "Mayo Clinic Healthy Living," and the triple-shield Mayo Clinic logo are trademarks of Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. In addition to writing scientific papers and procedures, her articles are published on Overstock.com and other websites.

A colonoscopy is a screening test where the doctor uses a long, narrow tube with a small camera attached to view the inside of your colon.If colon cancer is found, additional tests are often needed to determine the size of the tumor and whether it has spread beyond the colon.

Chandler has been writing for corporations and small businesses since 1991. It’s important to understand that many factors will affect your outlook, including how well you respond to treatment, your age, your cancer grade, and your overall health at the time of diagnosis.© 2005-2020 Healthline Media a Red Ventures Company.