Stage 0

• Stage 0 colon cancer is when cancer is limited to the innermost lining of the colon.
• Treatment involves surgery to remove the tumor and a small amount of surrounding tissue. If the cancer is larger, then a more extensive surgery is required to remove the diseased section of the colon.
• Surgery that removes all of the cancer is considered curative.

Stage I (Dukes A)

• Stage I tumors have spread beyond the inner lining of the colon to the second and third layers and involves the inside wall of the colon. The cancer has not spread to the outer wall of the colon or outside the colon.
• Standard treatment involves surgery to remove the cancer and a small amount of tissue around the tumor. Additional treatments are not usually needed.
• Surgery to remove stage I cancer is also highly curable, with 5 year survival rates at 93% according to the American Cancer Society.

Stage II (Dukes B)

• Stage II colon cancers are larger and extend through the muscular wall of the colon but do not affect the lymph nodes
• Standard treatment is surgery to remove the cancer and surrounding tissue.
• A person with Dukes B colon cancer may also be a candidate for a clinical trial looking at the use of adjuvant immunotherapy, radiation or chemotherapy.
• The 5-year survival rate for Dukes B colon cancer is 78%.

Stage III (Dukes C)

• Stage III colon cancers have spread outside the colon to one or more lymph. Tumors within the colon wall are classified as Dukes Stage C1 and those that have grown through the colon wall and spread are called Dukes Stage C2 cancers.
• Treatment involves surgery to remove the tumor and affected lymph nodes. After surgery, the patient will receive chemotherapy and possibly radiation therapy.
• The 5 year survival rate for Dukes C colon cancer is about 64%. Patients with one to four positive lymph nodes have a higher survival rate than people with more than five positive lymph nodes.

Stage IV (Dukes D)

• Stage IV colon cancers have spread outside the colon to other parts of the body commonly the liver or the lungs. The tumor can be any size and lymph nodes may be affected.
• Treatment may include surgery to remove the tumor and surrounding tissue in the colon and may parts of other organs where the cancer may have spread.
• Chemotherapy or radiation may also be given to relieve symptoms.
• Monoclonal antibodies may also be used to target and destroy tumors.
• The 5-year survival rate for Dukes D Colon Cancer is about 8%.

Recurrent Colon Cancer

• Recurrent colon cancer is cancer that returns after treatment, either near the area of the initial cancer or in other organs and is most likely in patients with more advanced cancer.
• Treatment may involve surgery to remove the cancer or chemotherapy.