18 C U R E ’ S I L L U S T R A T E D G U I D E T O C A N C E R

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C o l o n C a n c e r[ ]There are several systems to stage colon cancer, but the most commonly used system

was developed by the American Joint Committee on Cancer.

STAGE 1: The cancer has grown through

the mucosa, or inner layer of the colon,

and extends to the submucosa.

STAGE 2: The cancer has grown through

the submucosa and into the next layer,

the muscularis propria. It may or may not

extend into the next layers, the subserosa

or serosa, or to nearby tissues or organs.

It has not spread to the lymph nodes.

LYMPH NODE

CROSS SECTION OF A COLON

MUCOSA

SUBMUCOSA

MUSCULARIS PROPRIA

SUBSEROSA

SEROSA

TUMOR

TUMOR

C A N C E R S T A G I N G 19

ILLUSTRATION BY ERIN MOOREORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN CURE’S ILLUSTRATED GUIDE TO CANCER, 2010©CURE Media Group For patient handouts only

STAGE 3: The cancer may or may not have

grown through the wall of the colon, but it

has spread to nearby lymph nodes. It has not

spread to distant tissues or organs.

STAGE 4: The cancer has spread to distant sites,

such as the liver or lung. It may or may not have

grown through the wall of the colon. It may or may

not have spread to nearby lymph nodes.

CANCEROUS LYMPH NODE

LIVER

LUNG

COLON