Stage 3 colon cancer is colon cancer that has spread beyond the lining of the colon to nearby lymph nodes. Although the lymph nodes will contain cancer cells, the disease will not yet have spread to distant organs in the body, such as the liver or lungs.

This article reviews the possible symptoms of stage 3 colon cancer and how healthcare providers go about classifying, diagnosing, and treating it. You’ll also learn about the expected outcome if you or a loved one are diagnosed with it.

Symptoms of Stage 3 Colon Cancer

While people with stage 1 and stage 2 colon cancer will often have no signs of the disease, those with stage 3 are more likely to develop noticeable symptoms.

This is not always the case, though, and depends largely on the size and location of the tumor.

Common

A tumor within the colon can cause a stricture, which is narrowing of the intestinal passage. Eventually, as the tumor continues to grow, the interior space within the colon may become partially or completely blocked (bowel obstruction).

This narrowing or obstruction of the colon from the tumor can slow or prevent the normal movement of waste, fluids, and gas. As a result, symptoms like abdominal cramping or a change in bowel habits—constipation or diarrhea—may occur.

Bleeding is another potential symptom. You may notice bright red blood in your stool or stool that looks dark brown or black.

Alternatively, your stool may look perfectly normal.

Slow bleeding from the tumor may cause a low red blood cell count (iron deficiency anemia). Anemia can make you feel unusually weak or tired and can be diagnosed with a simple blood test.

Other possible symptoms of stage 3 colon cancer include:

  • Nausea or vomitingLoss of appetiteBloatingUnintended weight loss

Rare

There are different types of colon cancer. The majority of them are adenocarcinomas, cancers that start in cells that secrete fluids like digestive juices.

The less common types of colon cancer can sometimes manifest with distinct symptoms. Among them:

  • Mucinous adenocarcinoma: A less-common form of adenocarcinoma affecting mucus-producing cells, it is characterized by the abundant secretion of mucus, which will be visible on stools.
  • Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST): These affect cells in the wall of the colon and can sometimes form a hardened mass in the abdomen that can be felt during an exam.
  • Leiomyosarcoma: These affect the smooth muscles of the colon and are more likely to cause tenesmus, the feeling that you need to defecate even when the bowel is empty.

Other rare forms of colon cancer, like signet ring carcinoma and primary melanoma, are more aggressive and can rapidly progress from stage 3 to stage 4 if not detected early.

Diagnosis

If colon cancer is suspected, your healthcare provider will perform a battery of evaluations and tests, starting with a physical examination and medical history.

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The findings of the physical exam are often non-specific but may reveal the following:

  • Abdominal tenderness or swelling
  • Unusually loud or absent bowel sounds
  • A mass that can be felt by pressing on the abdomen
  • Fecal impaction (hard stool that is stuck in the rectum)
  • Significant weight loss
  • Evidence of bleeding from a rectal exam

In addition to the physical exam and asking you about your symptoms, your healthcare provider will ask about your family history of cancer, whether you have been diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and if you have any other risk factors for colon cancer. Based on these initial findings, other tests may be ordered.

Lab Tests

If you are experiencing possible symptoms of colon cancer, like a change in bowel habits, your healthcare provider may recommend a screening stool test.

However, screening stool tests are not used if you are experiencing suspicious, more specific symptoms like visible blood in your stool or evidence of bleeding on a rectal exam.

Screening tests come with the possibility of a false-negative result, meaning you have colon cancer but the test says you don’t. That’s why a diagnostic colonoscopy (see below) is recommended in these cases instead. A colonoscopy can also help rule out other conditions, such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis.

Screening stool tests include:

  • Fecal occult blood test (FOBT), which can check for evidence of blood in a stool sample (restriction of certain foods is necessary ahead of time)
  • Fecal immunochemical testing (FIT), a test similar to the FOBT that does not require a restricted diet
  • Stool DNA test (Cologuard), an at-home test for adults 45 and older that combines the FIT with a test that checks for DNA changes in the stool; you mail your sample to a lab for analysis

Besides stool tests, various blood tests may be ordered during your work-up for possible colon cancer:

  • Complete blood count (CBC) can help detect iron-deficiency anemia caused by bleeding in the colon.
  • Liver function tests (LFTs) can help see whether colon cancer, if present, has spread (metastasized) to the liver. However, it is possible for these tests to be normal despite the cancer having spread to this organ.
  • Tumor marker blood tests, like the carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) test, are used to detect proteins and other substances that are produced in excess when there is cancer. Since it’s also possible for these tests to be normal in patients with cancer, they cannot be used alone for screening or diagnosis.

Imaging Studies

Imaging scans may be performed to examine areas in the body suspicious for cancer and to see if a cancer, if present, has spread and how far.

Interestingly, a newer blood-based test called the CellMax liquid biopsy is under active investigation for detecting signs of colon cancer in blood samples. This test has not yet been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), so it’s not yet commercially available.

Among them:

  • Computed tomography (CT): An imaging study in which multiple X-ray scans are put together to create three-dimensional “slices” of the colon
  • Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): Uses powerful magnetic and radio waves to create highly detailed images, especially of soft tissues

Colonoscopy

The most direct method of diagnosis is colonoscopy, an outpatient procedure in which a flexible scope with a special, lighted camera is used to see inside the colon.

Colonoscopy is relatively non-invasive and typically performed under monitored anesthesia. The scope, called a colonoscope, is not only able to navigate the intestinal passageway but can also take photos and obtain tissue samples for examination in the lab.

Biopsy

A biopsy, or tissue sample, is considered the gold standard for confirming colon cancer, as it’s the only way to definitively diagnose the disease.

Most diagnostic colonoscopies can be performed within 30 to 60 minutes, not including preparation and anesthesia recovery time.

A biopsy is usually performed during a colonoscopy. In some cases, surgery may be required to perform a biopsy.

To obtain a biopsy during a colonoscopy, special instruments are fed through the tube of the colonoscope to pinch, cut, or electrically remove pieces of tissue. Once obtained, the sample is sent to a doctor called a pathologist.

The pathologist examines the tissue under a microscope to determine whether cancer cells are present. If so, they will begin the process of classifying the cancer—for example, by testing the cancer cells for specific gene changes.

Staging and Grading

Staging and grading are processes by which the extent and severity of the cancer are determined. These factors help guide the patient’s treatment plan and also help predict a patient’s prognosis, or likely outcome.

Cancer Staging

The exact stage of the colon cancer characterizes the extent of its progression. The stage is confirmed when the tumor is surgically removed.

A system called the TNM Classification of Malignant Tumors is used to classify the cancer based on three factors (represented by letters) and the extent of each one (represented by numbers).

  • T describes the depth of invasion of the primary (original) tumor.N describes the number of regional (nearby) lymph nodes with cancer. The lymph nodes are small structures that are part of the immune system. M stands for metastasis and describes whether the cancer has spread to distant organs or not.

Numbers from 0 to as high as 5 are attached to each letter to describe the degree of involvement.

With stage 3 colon cancer, there will be a positive finding of a primary tumor and regionally affected lymph nodes, but no signs of metastasis.

The stage is further broken down into three substages—stage 3A, 3B, and 3C—with each advancing letter representing a progression of the disease.

Tumor Grade

In addition to staging, the tumor will be graded by the pathologist. The grade predicts the likely behavior of a tumor based on how abnormal the cells look.

The grading will involve the use of stains and other techniques to see how different the cancer cells look from normal cells, which is called cell differentiation. These features can usually tell the pathologist how fast or slow the cancer is growing and whether the cancer is more or less likely to spread.

The cancer grades range from G1 to G4, with lower values representing a slower growing tumor that is less likely to spread and higher numbers representing a more aggressive tumor that is more likely to spread.

Treatment

Stage 3 colon cancer is typically treated with surgery, chemotherapy, and, in some cases, radiation therapy. The treatment plan will often require several medical specialists, including a gastroenterologist, surgical oncologist, medical oncologist, radiation oncologist, and your general physician.

Typically, your medical oncologist oversees and helps coordinate all facets of your cancer care. Your general physician confers with the specialists to manage your overall health. All are essential to your long-term health and well-being.

With treatment, many stage 3 colon cancers can be placed into remission, meaning that the signs and symptoms of cancer will have disappeared—in some cases forever. Even if partial remission is achieved, treatment can slow the progression of the cancer.

With improved therapies and treatment protocols, people with stage 3 colon cancer are living longer than ever.

Surgery

Stage 3 colon cancer is typically treated with surgical resection, in which a surgeon removes the affected part of the colon. This is called a partial colectomy or subtotal colectomy.

Your healthcare provider may suggest palliative care during the treatment phase, especially if your symptoms greatly affect your quality of life. Palliative care is specialized medical care focused on managing and providing relief from symptoms in addition to improving mental well-being during treatment.

The colectomy may be performed laparoscopically (with tiny “keyhole” incisions and specialized narrow equipment) or with traditional open surgery (when a large incision is made). The cut ends of the intestines are then surgically attached with staples or sutures.

The procedure may be accompanied by a lymphadenectomy, or lymph node dissection, in which nearby lymph nodes are also removed.

The number of lymph nodes removed is based on a number of factors, including how much of the tumor was removed, the location and grade of the tumor, and the age of the patient. Generally speaking, a lymph node dissection is considered adequate when at least 12 lymph nodes are taken out.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is typically used in adjuvant therapy, meaning that is delivered after surgery to clear any remaining cancer cells.

There are several forms of combination chemotherapy used in people with stage 3 colon cancer:

  • FOLFOX: A combination of 5-FU (fluorouracil), leucovorin, and oxaliplatin delivered by intravenous infusionFLOX: A combination of leucovorin and oxaliplatin delivered by intravenous infusion accompanied by an injection of 5-FU delivered all at once a single (bolus) doseCAPOX: A combination of Xeloda (capecitabine) and oxaliplatin

For advanced stage 3 tumors that cannot be removed completely with surgery, a course of chemotherapy along with radiation may be prescribed before surgery. This type of treatment, referred to as neoadjuvant therapy, can help shrink the tumor so that it is easier to resect.

Radiation Therapy

Radiation may sometimes be used as neoadjuvant therapy, typically in tandem with chemotherapy (referred to as chemoradiation therapy).

For people with good performance status, meaning they are able to carry out daily tasks without assistance, the standard course of chemotherapy for stage 3 colon cancer is seven or eight cycles given over six months.

At other times, radiation may be used as adjuvant therapy, particularly with stage 3C tumors that have attached to a nearby organ or have positive margins (tissues left behind after surgery that have cancer cells).

For people who are not fit for surgery or whose tumors are inoperable, radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy may be used to shrink and control the tumor. In cases like this, a form of radiation called stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) can deliver precise beams of radiation to ensure greater tumor control.

Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy is a form of therapy that encourages the immune system to fight cancer cells. It is typically used in adjuvant therapy. Common types of immunotherapy for stage 3C colon cancer include:

Checkpoint Inhibitors

Checkpoint inhibitors are drugs that target “checkpoint proteins,” which are proteins found on immune system cells that help recognize and attack foreign cells. Cancer cells can manipulate these checkpoints, causing immune cells not to attack cancer cells.

Checkpoint inhibitors block checkpoints that cancer cells use to avoid detection from immune cells. Common checkpoint inhibitors include Keytruda (pembrolizumab), Opdivo (nivolumab), and Yervoy (ipilimumab).

Adoptive Cell Transfer (T-cell transfer)

Adoptive cell transfer involves taking certain immune cells from your blood, known as T-cells, growing and sometimes altering them in a laboratory, and giving them back to you to help your immune system better fight cancer cells.

Targeted Therapy

In targeted therapy, cancer cells are specifically identified and attacked with drugs. Commonly used in adjuvant therapy, these drugs target specific proteins that help cancer cells grow. The two main types of targeted therapy for treating stage 3C colon cancer include:

Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) Inhibitors

VEGF is a protein that encourages the growth of new blood vessels, referred to as angiogenesis. This growth delivers blood supply and essential nutrients to tissues. While VEGF is an important protein for functions like wound healing and bone formation, cancer cells use this protein to obtain nutrients and grow.

VEGF inhibitors stop VEGF from working, helping to limit the growth of cancer cells. Common VEGF inhibitors include Avastin (bevacizumab) and Cyramza (ramucirumab).

Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) Inhibitors

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) is a protein that encourages cell division and survival when bound to its receptor, EGFR. Cancer cells use EGF to divide rapidly and grow in numbers.

EGFR inhibitors prevent EGF from binding to EGFR, which helps to limit cell division and growth. EGFR inhibitors used for stage 3C colon cancer include Erbitux (cetuximab) and Vectibix (panitumumab).

Prognosis

The prognosis of stage 3 colon cancer has improved enormously in the past few decades. With improved screening methods and the introduction of newer therapies, the number of deaths (mortality rate) is now nearly half of what it was in the 1990s.

The prognosis of stage 3 colon cancer is reflected by survival rates. These are typically measured in five-year intervals and described by the percentage of people who live for at least five years following the initial diagnosis compared with people in the general population.

Even with improved prognosis, colorectal cancer is the fourth most common cancer in the United States, accounting for nearly 150,000 new diagnoses each year and over 50,000 deaths.

The survival rate is divided into three stages. The stages are based on epidemiological data collected by the National Cancer Institute and are defined as follows:

  • Localized: A tumor confined to the primary siteRegional: A tumor that has spread to regional lymph nodesDistant: A tumor that has metastasized

By definition, stage 3 colon cancer is considered regional.

Survival rates are based solely on the extent of the disease. Data doesn’t account for other factors that can positively or negatively influence survival times, such as age, sex, cancer type, and general health cancer.

As such, the above-listed survival rates only provide a general sense of expectations.

Coping

It’s important to remember that even if colon cancer is advanced, it’s still highly treatable. To better cope with the challenges of treatment and recovery, there are several things you can do:

  • Educate yourself. Knowing what to expect not only helps reduce stress but allows you to participate fully in your treatment decisions. Do not hesitate to ask questions or express fears or concerns so that you can get the clarification you need. The more that you know and understand, the better and more informed your choices will be.
  • Eat appropriately. Colon cancer and cancer treatment can affect your appetite and lead to malnutrition. Start early by working with a nutritionist to formulate a dietary strategy, including how to find nourishment if you are nauseous, have lost your appetite, or are unable to tolerate solid foods.
  • Keep active. While it is important to get plenty of rest, an appropriate amount of daily exercise can help you feel less tired and increase your ability to cope. Don’t overdo it, but rather confer with your oncologist about the level and kinds of activity you can reasonably pursue, including walking, swimming, or gardening.
  • Manage stress. Rest and exercise can certainly help, but you can also engage in mind-body therapies like yoga, meditation, and progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) to better center yourself on a daily basis. If you feel severely anxious or depressed, do not hesitate to ask your healthcare provider for a referral to a psychologist or psychiatrist for help.
  • Seek support. Start by building a support network of family and friends who can help you emotionally and functionally (with transport, childcare, chores, etc.) By educating loved ones about your disease and treatment, they will be better able to understand what you need. Support groups can also be invaluable and are commonly offered by cancer treatment centers.

Summary

Stage 3 colon cancer means that a primary tumor within the colon has spread to nearby lymph nodes. Since stage 3 colon cancer is more extensive than stage 1 or 2 colon cancer, symptoms like a change in bowel habits, bleeding, or unusual tiredness from anemia tend to be more common.

The diagnosis of stage 3 colon cancer requires a biopsy, often performed during a colonoscopy. Treatment, which typically involves surgery and chemotherapy, depends on the stage (progression) and grade (severity) of the tumor, among other factors.

Even though the prognosis of stage 3 colon cancer is encouraging, with a five-year relative survival rate of 72%, being diagnosed with it can be a lot to digest. Seeking out support from others and staying active are often helpful coping strategies.

A Word From Verywell

Stage 3 colon cancer is not the same disease it was 20 years ago, and the outcomes are almost certain to improve as newer targeted therapies and immunotherapies increase survival times and the quality of life even in those with advanced metastatic disease.

Even if complete remission is not achieved, do not give up hope. Every case of colon cancer is different, with some people responding to certain therapies better than others. In addition to approved therapies, there are numerous clinical trials to explore, offering a possible bridge to future treatments.

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By James Myhre & Dennis Sifris, MD

Dennis Sifris, MD, is an HIV specialist and Medical Director of LifeSense Disease Management. James Myhre is an American journalist and HIV educator.

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