Colon cancer that has been diagnosed as Stage 0 (T1 - 2, N0, M0) means that the cancer has grown through the second, thin muscle layer of the colon called the muscularis mucosa (T1) or spread into the muscularis proparia (T2), a thick layer of muscle that contracts to force the contents of the colon along during the digestive process.
Since Stage 1 colon cancer has grown through several layers of the colon, but has not yet spread to other parts of the body, treatment is typically limited to surgical removal of the tumor. Surgery for Stage 1 typically consists of a colectomy, which removes the portion of the colon affected with the cancer and then reconnects the two remaining healthy portions of the colon. During this surgery nearby lymph nodes also are removed.
About Staging
The stage of colon cancer at diagnosis, or the extent to which it is present in the body, is typically determined by a staging system developed by the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) called the TNM System. Determining the stage of the colon cancer is one of the most vital factors in determining the most appropriate treatment options.
The AJCC TNM system evaluates the tumor based on the following criteria:
- T Category
- Describes the size of the primary tumor, which is measured in centimeters. The colon consists of several layers that form the wall of the colon, so it is important to know the extent of the growth into the wall of the intestine.
- N Category
- Whether or not the colon cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes.
- M Category
- Describes the absence or presence of distant metastasis, or spread of the cancer, to other organs.
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