What are the stages of cancer of the rectum?

Rectal cancer: Staging for rectal cancer depend on depth of tumor, nodal involvement and spread to other organs. Early stage( stage1), smaller tumor without involvement of nodes. Stage 2&3 deeper tumor and involvement of nodes and late stage( stage 4), when it spread to other organs.

4 stages: Stage i is a localized tumor without spread to other organs or the lymph nodes. Stage ii is a deeper tumor, into the muscular layers of the bowel or even outside the bowel, but not spread to distant organs or lymph nodes. Stage iii is a tumor that has involved the lymph nodes, but not distant organs. Stage IV is spread of tumor to organs far from the rectum, such as liver or lungs.