Detailed staging of bowel cancer

Stage 0 Back to top

The cancer affects only the mucosa of the bowel. This stage is sometimes called carcinoma in situ.

 

Stage 1 Back to top

The cancer has grown into the inner layer, or it may have grown into the muscle layer of the bowel. No lymph nodes are affected.

 

 

Stage 2A Back to top

The cancer has grown into the outer layer of the bowel but has not spread to nearby structures, or to any lymph nodes or other parts of the body.

 

 

Stage 2B Back to top

The cancer has grown through the outer layer of the bowel but has not grown into other nearby organs. It doesn’t affect any lymph nodes or other parts of the body.

 

 

Stage 2C Back to top

The cancer has grown into or is attached to other nearby structures or organs. It doesn’t affect any lymph nodes or other parts of the body.

 

Stage 3A Back to top

The cancer affects the inner layer of the bowel, or has begun to grow into the muscle layer. It affects between one and three lymph nodes, or it affects the tissue surrounding the lymph nodes but not the nodes themselves. It has not spread to other parts of the body.

 

 

Or, the cancer affects just the inner layer of the bowel and has spread to 4–6 nearby lymph nodes. It has not spread to other parts of the body.

 

 

Stage 3B Back to top

The cancer has spread into or through the outer layer of the bowel. It affects between one and three lymph nodes close to the bowel, or it affects the tissues surrounding the lymph nodes but not the nodes themselves. It has not spread to other parts of the body.

 

 

Or, the cancer has grown into the muscle layer or the outer layer of the bowel and has spread to 4–6 nearby lymph nodes. It has not spread to other parts of the body.

 

 

Or, the cancer has grown into the inner layer of the bowel or into the muscle layer and has spread to seven or more nearby lymph nodes. It has not spread to other parts of the body.

 

 

Stage 3C Back to top

The cancer has grown through the outer layer of the bowel but has not grown into other nearby organs. It has spread to 4–6 nearby lymph nodes. It has not spread to other parts of the body.

 

 

Or, the cancer has grown into or through the outer layer of the bowel but has not grown into other nearby organs. It has spread to seven or more nearby lymph nodes. It has not spread to other parts of the body.

 

 

Or, the cancer has grown into or is attached to nearby organs and affects any number of lymph nodes. It has not spread to other parts of the body.

 

 

Stage 4A Back to top

The cancer can be any size and may or may not affect lymph nodes. It has spread to only one organ in the body.

Stage 4B Back to top

The cancer can be any size and may or may not affect lymph nodes. It has spread to more than one organ in the body or to the peritoneum (the lining of the tummy).