Determining Cancer Stage

The inital assessment was Stage III due to the size of my tumor, however, there are two other important staging factors: (lymph) node involement, and metastic spread. After reviewing xrays, bloodwork, CT scans, and an ultrasound, it was determined that my cancer was Stage III, particularly T3N1M0.

T3: T is the extent to which the cancer or tumor has grown and possibly invaded the surrounding area. My T3 meant that the tumor had grown completely into the layers and through walls of the rectum but not into nearby organs or tissues.

N1: N refers to lymph node involvement. N1 means one to three lymph nodes in the area may be involved. There are lymph nodes all over the body and since they communicate with each other it is sadly common for them to 'transmit' cancer to other parts of the body. I don't know how this works, but I think that's the gist of it. Any cancer is more serious if lymph nodes are involved. In my case, only one of the several lymph nodes in the rectal area appeared to be enlarged and was therefore suspect.

M0: Metastic disease, ie spread of cancer. A primary cancer is said to have metastasized if cancer has begun to appear in another organ or areas of the body, particularly at some distance, such as a patient who has rectal cancer as well as kidney or lung cancer. In my case, there was no evidence of cancer anywhere else.