At Penn Medicine, colon cancer diagnosis is a team effort. Our renowned gastrointestinal (GI) cancer experts use leading diagnostic tools and in-depth collaboration to pinpoint your diagnosis. This approach provides a high degree of accuracy and helps us personalize your treatment.
Colon cancer staging and grading
If you have a colorectal cancer diagnosis, your doctor may recommend additional tests to get a more complete picture of your health and to determine the cancer’s stage. For example, imaging tests for colon cancer can show the size and location of the cancer, and whether it has spread to other organs. The cancer stage is then determined by using this information. Staging colon cancer helps your doctor determine the best course of treatment.
The stages of colon cancer include:
- Stage 0: Also known as cancer in situ, the cancer cells are only in the inner lining of the colon.
- Stage I: Cancer is deeper in the muscle layer of the colon but hasn’t spread to the lymph nodes.
- Stage II: Cancer has spread through the muscle wall of the colon.
- Stage III: Cancer has spread to the lymph nodes near the colon.
- Stage IV: Cancer has spread to other organs in the body, such as the liver or lungs.
Genomic testing to diagnose colon cancer
At Penn Medicine, we also perform specialized genomic tests on colon cancer tissue’s DNA. These tests help identify a diagnosis so that we understand which treatments are most likely to benefit you.
Having a personal or family history of colon cancer may put you at increased risk for colon or other cancers. Through our Gastrointestinal Cancer Genetics Program, expert genetic counselors can help you evaluate, understand, and manage the potential hereditary colon cancer risk.
Colon cancer diagnosis: The Penn Medicine advantage
You can trust Penn Medicine’s colon cancer specialists to provide a precise diagnosis based on exceptional expertise. Our experience spans all types of colon cancers, including rare and advanced cases.
You can count on us to offer:
- Vast diagnostic resources: Our doctors use the latest colon cancer diagnostic tests and detection tools. Penn Medicine’s expansive network makes it easier for you to access the tests you need with fewer hassles.
- Leading colon cancer experts: You’ll receive care from highly trained specialists, including gastroenterologists, pathologists, and colorectal surgeons, at the forefront of their field. Subspecialized training and decades of cumulative experience enable us to provide expert care for the most complex cases.
- Leading treatment options: We treat colon cancer using the most advanced therapies, including proton therapy and clinical trials. Our fellowship-trained colorectal surgeons perform a high volume of cancer surgeries on the colon, rectum, and anus. Advanced surgical techniques help us treat cancer while minimizing the impact on how your body functions.
Rated “exceptional” by The National Cancer Institute
Penn Medicine’s Abramson Cancer Center is a world leader in cancer research, patient care, and education. Our status as a national leader in cancer care is reflected in our continuous designation as a Comprehensive Cancer Center by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) since 1973, one of 7 such centers in the United States. The ACC is also a member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, one of a select few cancer centers in the U.S., that are working to promote equitable access to high-quality, advanced cancer care.