Colon Cancer Stage 3

Colon cancer stage 3 is a rather serious stage, but all hope is not lost if you reach this point.

Stage 3 colon cancer is also divided into three sections, with each section reflecting a different level that the illness has reached.

There are five different stages related to colon cancer; each of them letting you know how serious the illness has become.

The stages are meant to state how far the cancer has spread, and how likely the individual is to survive.

Stage 3A

Colon cancer stage 3 starts with 3A, which is when the cancer has reached the middle portion of the colon. It is also possible the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes at this point, with as many as three being involved.

Stage 3B

In stage 3B, the cancer has gone beyond the middle portion of the colon and is now impacting nearby tissue. This is more serious because when it has spread this far, it can begin affecting nearby organs.

Stage 3C

Stage 3C may be similar to both 3A and 3B, but there are four or more lymph nodes involve. Stage 3 colon cancer can take on all of these forms, so it is important to have this information in front of you when listening to your doctor.

Stage 3 Treatment

The treatment of stage 3 usually involves surgery, followed by a bout of chemotherapy. The surgery will remove the tumor, which is vital to survival from stage 3 colon cancer. The end goal is to keep as much of the colon intact as possible.

Chemotherapy will usually last around six months. However, new treatments available for colon cancer stage 3 can decrease this time considerably.

Ask your doctor if these other forms of treatment may work for you, as the less time you have to spend undergoing chemotherapy the better.

Stage 3 Survival Rates

The survival rate for stage 3 colon cancer is highly dependent on the stage the illness has reached when it is first discovered. The location of the tumor may also influence the survival rate.

It takes longer to notice a tumor on the right side of the colon because the symptoms do not emerge as quickly. More developed countries have a higher survival rate because they have more advanced screening techniques.

In the end, it is possible to live a normal life after stage 3, as 83% of people who are diagnosed in stage 3A survive. That number drops to 64% in stage 3B and 44% in stage 3C, so early detection is important.

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