Please can someone explain bowel cancer prognosis to me

[Worried3456789]

A dear friend of mine had bowel cancer 2 years ago (stage 3C). Last week she was told it is back in her pelvic lymph nodes.
She is about to start more chemo.

Does anyone know the prognosis ? Would this now be classed as stage 4 or can this still be cured?

Worried sick and don't want to ask her outright

If it's spread to lymph nodes it would now be grade 4. Don't know much about Bowel cancer - can tell you loads about lung cancer

That sounds like a cancer that spread so no, can't be cured. It may be possible to control it however. With prognosis remember this, the numbers tell you what happened to 100 or 1000 people somewhat similar to you but nobody can tell you what will happen to you. Prognosis is a guidebook not a travel journal.

Thank you x

Sorry to hear about your friend. If it is nearby lymph nodes it could still be stage 3 (mine was classed as that and I had one lymph node positive) but that was inital cancer so not sure if fact it has returns changes things. Bowel cancer is staged a bit differently. Some useful info on staging here www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/bowel-cancer/stages-types-and-grades/TNM-staging. Sending positive wishes for your friend.

Also I know people with stage 4 bowel cancer who have been cured (or at least all good currently) so although stats for stage 4 worse it doesn't necessarily mean it is terminal.

Stage 4 means it's spread to other parts of the body - for bowel cancer this is usually liver or lungs. This is still bowel cancer but classed as metastatic bowel cancer or 'mets'. Lymph nodes are one of the ways that cancer can spread (another is blood vessels) so increase the risk of it becomeing Stage 4 but scans are needed to know for sure - so maybe ask about the results of scans if you don't want to be too direct? I hope this helps.