The type of cancer which develops in th e large intestines or the colon is known as colon cancer. This type of cancer is usually found in older adults. However, it can affect anyone. The stage of colon cancer is determined by the spread or growth of the tumor.

Here’s looking at the  stages and rare symptoms of colon cancer.

Stages of colon cancer
Based on the spread of cancer, doctors assign a stage to cancer. The following are the stages of colon cancer:

• Stage 0
  This stage is known as cancer in situ. The cancer cells are limited to the inner lining of the colon or the rectum at this stage.
• Stage I
  At this stage, cancer has grown and reached the colon or the rectum’s muscular layer. However, it is yet to spread to the nearby lymph nodes or tissues.
• Stage IIA
  Here, cancer has grown and spread outside the colon and the rectum walls. But it has not reached the nearby lymph nodes or the tissues.
• Stage IIB
  At this stage, cancer has grown and spread through the layer of muscles and reached the abdominal lining, which is known as visceral peritoneum. However, the cancer cells have not reached the nearby lymph nodes and tissue.
• Stage IIC
  Cancer has grown more and spread to the colon or rectum wall. It is yet to reach the nearby lymph nodes and tissues.

• Stage IIIA
  The has grown further either from the inner lining or into the intestinal muscular layer. It has also reached around 1 to 3 lymph nodes. 

• Stage IIIB
  Cancer has grown and it has passed the wall of the bowel or it has reached the nearby organs. It has also affected 1 to 3 lymph nodes. It is yet to reach other distant parts of the body.

• Stage IIIC
  At this stage, cancer has spread to 4 or even more lymph nodes. But it has not reached distant body parts yet.

• Stage IVA
  At this stage, cancer has reached one distant part of the body and affected organs such as the lungs or the liver.

• Stage IVB
  Here, cancer has spread to more than one body part.

• Stage IVC
  Cancer-causing cells could have spread to several organs or parts of the body at this stage.

Rare symptoms of colon cancer
It is common for colon cancer patients to get diagnosed with the condition at later stages. This happens because the symptoms of colon cancer start to show up once cancer has advanced. While some symptoms are commonly associated with the condition, some others can be rare. To fight the condition, it is important to thoroughly learn about the stages and rare symptoms of colon cancer. Here is a list of rare symptoms of the condition: 

• Pain in the abdomen area
• Weakness or fatigue
• Passing of discolored stool
• Weight loss
• Experiencing pain in the rectal area