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stage III gastric cancer
(... GAS-trik KAN-ser) - Stage III is divided into stages IIIA, IIIB, and IIIC. In stage IIIA, cancer (1) has spread to the muscle layer of the stomach wall and to 7 to 15 nearby lymph nodes; or (2) has spread to the subserosa (layer of connective tissue between the muscle layer and the outermost layer called the serosa) of the stomach wall and to 3 to 6 nearby lymph nodes; or (3) has spread to the serosa of the stomach wall and to 1 to 6 nearby lymph nodes; or (4) has spread to nearby organs, such as the spleen, colon, liver, diaphragm, pancreas, abdomen wall, adrenal gland, kidney, or small intestine, or to the back of the abdomen. In stage IIIB, cancer (1) may have spread to the submucosa (layer of connective tissue between the mucosa and the muscle layer) or to the muscle layer of the stomach wall and has spread to 16 or more nearby lymph nodes; or (2) has spread to the subserosa or to the serosa of the stomach wall and to 7 to 15 nearby lymph nodes; or (3) has spread to nearby organs, such as the spleen, colon, liver, diaphragm, pancreas, abdomen wall, adrenal gland, kidney, or small intestine, or to the back of the abdomen. Cancer has also spread to 1 to 6 nearby lymph nodes. In stage IIIC, cancer (1) has spread to the subserosa or to the serosa of the stomach wall and to 16 or more nearby lymph nodes; or (2) has spread to nearby organs, such as the spleen, colon, liver, diaphragm, pancreas, abdomen wall, adrenal gland, kidney, or small intestine, or to the back of the abdomen. Cancer has also spread to 7 or more nearby lymph nodes. Also called stage III stomach cancer.
