Can stage 4 rectal cancer be downgraded to stage 3?

Stage 4 colorectal cancer refers to stage D, and stage 3 refers to stage C. Generally speaking, once a person is diagnosed with stage D colorectal cancer, it cannot be downgraded to stage C.

The staging of rectal cancer is determined by the degree of infiltration and metastasis of cancer cells. Generally, it can be divided into four stages: ABCD. The higher the stage, the more serious the condition. Stage D of rectal cancer usually reaches the late stage, when the cancer cells have metastasized to distant sites, such as liver, lung, bone, and brain, while stage C of rectal cancer means that lymph node metastasis has occurred, but no distant metastasis has occurred. Once distant metastasis occurs, it is usually irreversible. Once rectal cancer reaches stage D, it will usually not drop to stage C.

If rectal cancer is found to be in stage D, surgical treatment is generally no longer possible. Supportive treatment, symptomatic treatment, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, etc. can be given as appropriate to the situation to prolong life as much as possible. You should go to the oncology department of a regular medical institution as soon as possible and follow the doctor's orders for treatment.