Colon cancer, also known as colorectal cancer, is cancer that originates in the colon. The colon makes up the majority of the large intestine and helps the body absorb salt and water from food as well as store waste. Once colon cancer is diagnosed, it is staged. Cancer staging involves using a standardized system to describe the extent of the cancer and where it has spread to in the body. For colon cancer, the stages run from Stage 0, noninvasive colon cancer, to Stage IV, metastatic cancer that has spread to other organs. Stage IIIC colon cancer is the most advanced sub-stage of Stage III cancer.
Features
Stage IIIC colon cancer can be diagnosed in three situations, according to the American Cancer Society. The first instance is if the cancer has spread through the colon wall, but is not in any adjacent organs. It is also in four to six adjacent lymph nodes, but not in distant organs. The next diagnostic situation includes cancer that has spread to the most outer layers of the colon, but is not in surrounding organs. Seven or more lymph nodes are cancerous, but distant organs are cancer-free. The last situation that can indicate Stage IIIC colon cancer is when the cancer has extended through the colon wall and has reached or spread into adjacent organs. It is also in one or more lymph nodes nearby or into fatty tissue around the lymph nodes, but not in distant organs.
Identification
To determine the stage of colon cancer, the physician will estimate a clinical stage, based on a physical exam, biopsy and imaging tests. The pathologic stage is determined based on surgical findings plus the clinical stage. Typically, the pathologic stage is a more accurate staging because the physician has a more detailed look at the extent of the cancer.
Treatment
The National Cancer Institute describes treatment for Stage III colon cancer, including surgery to remove as much of the cancer as possible, followed by chemotherapy, and clinical trials that might be available. Clinical trials are closely monitored research studies that look at the effectiveness of new treatments. The American Cancer Society further describes the most common chemotherapy regimen, FOLFOX, which consists of 5-FU, leucovorin and oxaliplatin.
Effects
Treatment for Stage IIIC colon cancer can have several side effects. Surgery, depending on the extent of the procedure, can involve a colostomy, or ileostomy, which involves an opening in the abdomen that connects to a bag that allows waste to leave the body. This may be temporary or permanent. The FOLFOX chemotherapy regimen may cause side effects such as diarrhea; lowered red and white blood cell counts, which can lead to anemia and increased risk of infections; nausea or vomiting; mouth sores; and tingling in the hands and feet. These typically resolve once treatment has ended.
Time Frame
Cancer survival is typically described in five-year survival rates. This is the percentage of individuals still alive five years post-diagnosis. The American Cancer Society lists the five-year survival rate for Stage IIIC colon cancer as 28 percent.
