3 Things to Know About Stage 3 Colorectal Cancer

Millennials who came of age along with the beloved characters on the hit TV show, Dawson’s Creek, were saddened by the loss of James Van Der Beek, 48, who played the leading role of Dawson Leery, just as everyone was still in a state of shock over iconic actress Catherine O’Hara’s death at age 71.

The two actors had colorectal cancer diagnoses in common. While O’Hara’s immediate cause of death was a pulmonary embolism (a blood clot that travels up the lung) brought on by her battle with rectal cancer, Van Der Beek had been living with Stage 3 colorectal cancer since at least 2023 when he was diagnosed with the illness.

Colorectal cancer, cancer of the colon or rectum, is now the leading cause of cancer related death and people younger than age 50. Younger generations like Millennials should pay close attention to Van Der Beek’s story because people are being diagnosed at younger ages at increased rates.While colorectal screenings, like a colonoscopy, can help detect cancer when it’s most treatable, sometimes, it may have already progressed to further stages, which decreases the chances of recovery and survival.

As we extend prayers of peace and comfort to all who love James Van Der Beek and Catherine O’Hara, we also want to provide colorectal cancer education and awareness with three things to know about Stage 3 colorectal cancer, including signs and symptoms, risk factors and treatment options.

What Is Stage 3 Colorectal Cancer?

Colorectal cancer typically begins with the formation of a polyp within the colon or rectum, which are parts of the large intestine. Polyps are small growths or lumps that grow with time. These growths usually begin as a clump of noncancerous cells, but if left untreated, they can become cancerous and potentially extend beyond the colonic wall and into nearby organs.

It’s important to know that colorectal cancer can range from Stage 0 to Stage 4. It’s considered to be Stage 3 when the polyps have spread into nearby lymph nodes but haven’t yet reached other areas of the body. Stage 3 colorectal cancer is broken up into three categories:

Stage 3A

The cancer has spread through the first two inner layers of the colon or rectum wall and has reached one to three nearby lymph nodes.

Stage 3B

The cancer has spread through the muscle layer of the colon wall to the outermost layer of the colon wall, known as the serosa, and has reached one to three nearby lymph nodes.

Stage 3C

In this category, the cancer has spread through the outermost layer of the colon wall to the tissue that wraps around the organs in the abdomen and has reached four to six nearby lymph nodes but has not spread to nearby organs.

1. Signs and Symptoms of Stage 3 Colorectal Cancer

It’s possible to have colon cancer without experiencing symptoms. And if you do have symptoms, they may seem similar to other less serious conditions. Common symptoms of Stage 3 colorectal cancer may include:

• Bloating
• Bowel obstructions
• Diarrhea or constipation
• Abdominal pain
• Bright red blood in stool
• Dark brownish-black stool
• Rectal bleeding
• Nausea
• Unexplained weight loss
• Vomiting

Oftentimes, people disregard these symptoms and assume their cause is from a less serious condition. But this highlights the importance of colon cancer screenings, like a colonoscopy. If you or a loved one experiences any of these symptoms, visit your doctor immediately for the prompt care you deserve.

2. Risk Factors for Stage 3 Colorectal Cancer

Certain lifestyle choices put you at a higher risk of developing colorectal cancer, including:

• Being overweight or obese
• Eating a diet high in red meat
• Excessive smoking or drinking
• Type 2 diabetes
• Not regularly exercising

The good news is you can implement healthy lifestyle changes to hopefully prevent colorectal cancer. But unfortunately, certain risk factors are out of your control. These include:

• A family history of colorectal cancer or polyps
• Age
• Being male
• Having inflammatory bowel disease
• Having radiation near the abdomen or pelvis area
• Inherited conditions

While certain factors that put you at a greater risk for colorectal cancer are out of your control, there are certain lifestyle changes you can make to lower your risk. Talk to your doctor about these lifestyle changes and how we can partner with you on your journey to wholeness.

3. Stage 3 Colorectal Cancer Treatment

The good news is we’ve made advances in Stage 3 colorectal cancer treatment. The standard treatment is surgery to remove the area of the colon containing cancer (known as a partial colectomy), along with the affected lymph nodes. Once the surgery is complete, patients will then start chemotherapy, typically FOLFOX (5-FU leucovorin and oxaliplatin) or CAPEOX (capecitabine and oxaliplatin) to eliminate any remaining cancer.

If surgery and chemotherapy can’t successfully remove all the cancer, neoadjuvant immunotherapy may be recommended to shrink the cancer to allow it to be surgically removed. Adjuvant radiation therapy may also be recommended. Radiation therapy is a good option for those who aren’t healthy enough for surgery or if the area affected isn’t able to be removed.

Helping You Stay Well With Constant Care

At UChicago MedicAdventHealth, we’re committed to providing world-class cancer care through leading-edge surgical techniques to help you feel like yourself again. And remember, early detection saves lives, so the best thing you can do is stay in touch with your primary care provider and get your routine screenings.

Find a provider to partner with you on your health care journey. You deserve to feel whole.