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Staging Colon Cancer

  1. Stage 0: Cancer is limited to the inner layer (lining) of the large intestine (colon) covering the polyp.

  2. Stage 1: Cancer spreads to the space between the inner layer and muscle layer of the large intestine. (This space contains blood vessels, nerves, and lymph vessels.)

  3. Stage 2: Cancer invades the muscle layer and outer layer of the colon.

  4. Stage 3: Cancer extends through the outer layer of the colon into nearby lymph nodes.

  5. Stage 4 (not shown): Cancer spreads to other organs, such as the liver, lungs, or ovaries, or to the lining of the abdominal cavity (peritoneum).

Staging Colon Cancer
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