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What Are The Staging Systems In Colon Cancer?

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Posted on Fri, 11 Jul 2014
Question: Really confussed. In march my dad folloeing surgery got told he had dukes c1 colon cancer.

What stage is this in terms of the TNM classification ?

They say had 10 nodes affected but im confussed how with 10 nodes hed be a c1??
doctor
Answered by Dr. K. Harish (8 hours later)
Brief Answer:
What has been told is correct

Detailed Answer:
There are many staging systems in colon cancer. Commonly practiced are Dukes, Modified Astler Coller and the TNM staging.

Probably what is used in your case is the Modified Astler Coller (Modified form of original Dukes) classification. The presence of metastatic nodes indicates 'C'. The number of nodes do not matter. Hence even with 10 metastatic nodes the staging would be C.

In TNM, this would be one of the sub stages of III. That would depend on the T status. In any case this would classify as stage III.

The 'N' in TNM is subclassified based on number of nodes.

Do not get confused. They are different staging systems. In one the number of nodes are important for subclassification and they are not in the other.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. K. Harish (2 hours later)
So even with 10 lymp nodes he can be a c1 and
Not c2?

I thought he would be a c2?
doctor
Answered by Dr. K. Harish (33 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Yes he can still be C1

Detailed Answer:
C2 is not related to number of nodes but muscle invasion
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. K. Harish (7 hours later)
Thx . Wat is survival like? Problem is he had surgery march and did not want chemo. Only just now he has agreed to try it- the oral form.

Plus his cea in may was 3 and in XXXXXXX went to 4. Is this of concern?
doctor
Answered by Dr. K. Harish (15 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Reasonably OK

Detailed Answer:
Survival would be in the range of 30-70% at 5 years.

Chemotherapy is recommended for node +ve colon cancers. It is better that he is administered chemotherapy.

CEA increase from 3 to 4 is not an indicator of progress of disease. Small variations do happen.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. K. Harish (7 hours later)
He had surgery in march , has he left it too late to have chemo?
doctor
Answered by Dr. K. Harish (4 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Check with your doctor

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

Generally chemo should be started within 6-8 weeks post surgery. Please check with your medical oncologist on feasibility, efficacy and usefulness.

Regards,
Note: For further queries related to kidney problems Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. K. Harish

Oncologist, Surgical

Practicing since :1986

Answered : 59 Questions

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What Are The Staging Systems In Colon Cancer?

Brief Answer: What has been told is correct Detailed Answer: There are many staging systems in colon cancer. Commonly practiced are Dukes, Modified Astler Coller and the TNM staging. Probably what is used in your case is the Modified Astler Coller (Modified form of original Dukes) classification. The presence of metastatic nodes indicates 'C'. The number of nodes do not matter. Hence even with 10 metastatic nodes the staging would be C. In TNM, this would be one of the sub stages of III. That would depend on the T status. In any case this would classify as stage III. The 'N' in TNM is subclassified based on number of nodes. Do not get confused. They are different staging systems. In one the number of nodes are important for subclassification and they are not in the other.