The colon and rectum are parts of the body s digestive system and together form a long muscular tube called the large intestine. Colorectal cancer is defined as stage III when cancer has penetrated the wall of the colon into the abdominal cavity and invaded any of the local lymph nodes but cannot be detected in other locations in the body.
Colorectal cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world.
The outcome of patients with this disease is steadily improving, mainly due to earlier detection methods and routine screening procedures. Currently, the only curative option for patients with this disease involves the surgical removal of the cancer. Patients with stage III colon cancer often require extensive surgery for the complete removal of their cancer. A hemicolectomy is currently the standard surgical procedure used to remove the cancer. A hemicolectomy is an invasive surgery which requires surgeons to create a large opening in the abdomen in order to reach the cancer.