Stage IV colon cancer is divided into stage IVA and stage IVB.
In colon cancer, if the cancer has spread only to the liver and if surgery is possible–either before or after chemotherapy–the patient has a chance of complete cure.
Stage IVA: Cancer may have spread through the colon wall and may have spread to nearby organs or lymph nodes. Cancer has spread to one organ that is not near the colon, such as the liver, lung, or ovary, or to a distant lymph node.
Stage IVB: Cancer may have spread through the colon wall and may have spread to nearby organs or lymph nodes. Cancer has spread to more than one organ that is not near the colon or into the lining of the abdominal wall.
dianetavegia wrote:DucFanDan, You'd be restaged for Stage IVa which is a new subset of staging for those who have 1 or very few small mets and can have surgery with curative intent.
I was up staged to Stage IVa 20 months ago and had a liver resection 18 1/2 months ago. Still NED as of last week.Stage IV colon cancer is divided into stage IVA and stage IVB.
In colon cancer, if the cancer has spread only to the liver and if surgery is possible–either before or after chemotherapy–the patient has a chance of complete cure.
Stage IVA: Cancer may have spread through the colon wall and may have spread to nearby organs or lymph nodes. Cancer has spread to one organ that is not near the colon, such as the liver, lung, or ovary, or to a distant lymph node.
Stage IVB: Cancer may have spread through the colon wall and may have spread to nearby organs or lymph nodes. Cancer has spread to more than one organ that is not near the colon or into the lining of the abdominal wall.
dianetavegia wrote:Sorry Kathryn but it depends on which doctor you ask. My oncologist and surgeon say I am now a Stage IVa and no longer Stage IIIB.
Generally, the stage is determined at the point of a person's initial diagnosis. For example, when first diagnosed, it sounds like the doctors said this was stage IIIB. Usually, when cancer comes back after being in remission, the stage is considered to be "recurrent" since the cancer has come back after the initial diagnosis and treatment.
Some doctors also will use the Stage I-IV numbering system even in a situation of a recurrence in order to help explain the extent of cancer in the body. For colon cancer, you can read about the staging in the links below. If cancer has spread to the liver, that is usually considered to be Stage IV because the cancer has become metastatic (meaning that it has traveled through the bloodstream or the lymphatic system to reach a distant organ).
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