If the CEA marker is elevated, it may indicate metastases, the spreading of the cancer to distant sites in the body. Staging involves information obtained from the pathologist, the exploration of the abdomen during surgery and other preoperative test results. Staging involves a review of all clinical and pathologic findings and final staging is not available until the receipt of a final pathology report. Such a report is available several days after surgery. Staging may be done according to different systems.
N refers to the presence or absence and the extent of regional lymph node metastasis.
M refers to the presence or absence of distant metastases to other sites of the body. This is early stage colon cancer that is confined to its site, in situ, or the first layer or surface lining without entering the submucosa. The designation of Stage 0 means that the cancer is not invasive and is not yet capable of spreading elsewhere. Stage 1 T1 or T2 N0 M0 Also known as Dukes Stage A, the cancer has penetrated into, but not through, the bowel wall. The surrounding fat, or serosal surfaces, are not involved.