Why Is The Survival Rate Of A Colon Cancer Stage Iv Only 8% But A Stage Iii Is 68%?

[Neddie]

There are 3 parts to stage III 3A 3B and 3C. Stage IIIB has a 5-year survival rate of about 56-60%. As the stage gets higher the survival rate gets lower. Which stage 3 a colon cancer falls is determined by a combination of the depth of invasion and the number of lymph nodes involved. This tells us statically how likely the disease will progress. Colon cancer is a stage IV when cancer has spread to a distant site. It is most often the liver, but it does not have to be. The survival rate is so much lower because once cancer has spread to a distant site we know cancer cells are circulating in the body and it is nearly impossible to stop them.

[DAngelo]

Stage 4 implies distant metastatic foci, mostly involving the liver, which doesn't respond well to any Rx.

[Duriel]

because it depends how much it has spread. stage 4 means it's spread to more of the body than stage 3, making it harder to eliminate from the body. once it gets to your liver...not good!