The cancer has spread throughout the colon or rectum but not beyond. Stage IIb, however, involves the lymph nodes near the colon. The cancer has invaded through the bowel. Stage IIIb indicates that the cancer also involves the lymph nodes. The cancer has spread to other parts of the body.
Recurrent cancer is cancer that has come back after treatment.
It may recur in the colon or rectum or in another part of the body.