Rectal Cancer
STAGING
Stage A cancer of the rectum is confined to the inner lining mucosa.
Stage B disease is subgrouped into Stage B1, B2, or B3.
- B1 means that the cancer has just started to invade the muscle, but is not all the way through it.
- Stage B2 means that the cancer has gone all the way through the muscle and is into the fatty tissue surrounding the rectum.
- Stage B3 disease means that a cancer has spread into adjacent pelvic organs.
Stage C disease means that lymph nodes are involved.
Stage D disease means that the cancer has spread to another part of the body, most likely the liver.