After it has been determined that an actual cancer exists, the degree to which the cancer has developed is determined. Breast Cancer Stage. Grade 2 (intermediate grade) indicates the cancer cells do not look like normal cells and are growing faster than grade 1 cancer cells. The stage of a cancer describes the size of the cancer and how far it has spread. Outlook: Your recovery will depend in part on how early the cancer is found. This means the cancer is still only in the layer of cells where it first started, and it has not spread any farther. Your breast cancer may be described as stage 1, stage 2, stage 3 or stage 4. That information is added to your test results to determine the pathologic stage, or surgical stage. The stage tells you how big your cancer is and whether it has spread. Doctors often write the stage down in Roman numerals. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): Powerful magnets and radio waves are used to make detailed images of the affected area. Stage 0: Cancer at this stage is also known as carcinoma in situ. The most advanced stage of colon cancer (stage IV) indicates cancer has spread to other areas of the body, such as the liver or lungs. Knowing the stage of a cancer is important as it helps doctors to work out the best treatment options. Other kinds, like blood cancers, lymphoma, and brain cancer, have their own staging systems. The symbols are a bit different for each type of cancer, but this is generally what they mean: Doctors look at other information about your cancer for clues about how it will behave. For example, a number system is used for some cancers. Stages of cancer of the lip and oral cavity. The stage may be adjusted if you have additional tests or after surgery. Doctors stage the cancer to help determine the best form of treatment. In the TNM system: The T refers to the size and extent of the main tumor. This is called lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS). It may have started to spread into surrounding tissues and there are cancer cells in the lymph nodes nearby. A 0 means it hasn't, and a 1 means it has. There is a buildup of abnormal cells in the breast lobules. Pancreatic cancer begins in the tissues of your pancreas — an organ in your abdomen that lies horizontally behind the lower part of your stomach. Some doctors or researchers call these cell changes 'precancerous changes' or 'non invasive cancer'. For example, if you're diagnosed with stage II lung cancer, that's what it will be called, whether it spreads or goes into remission. Sometimes doctors use the letters a, b or c to further divide the categories. General cancer information. It's important to understand your cancer stage for several reasons: Your doctor will use information from test results (clinical stage) or possibly the tumor itself (pathologic stage) to decide your overall stage. For example to the liver or lung. Some blood cancers or lymph system cancers have their own staging systems. This is done for several reasons, the most important of which is providing a universally understood definition of a particular cancers progress. Some cancers, especially liquid cancers, are staged using different established protocols. Stage 4 means the cancer has spread from where it started to another body organ. This stands for clinical stage. ", American Society of Clinical Oncology: "Stages of Cancer. Staging is important because it helps your treatment team to know which treatments you need. It means that there is a group of abnormal cells in an area of the body. In a few cases, cancer may be restaged with a new round of tests after treatment or if it comes back. Some cancers also have a stage 0, which is often called carcinoma in situ. So some doctors feel that these terms are inaccurate and they don't use them. Most types of cancer have 4 stages, numbered from 1 to 4. But they all tell you how advanced the cancer is. Sometimes stages are subdivided as well, using capital letters (for example, stage III might be subdivided into stages IIIA and IIIB). The stage takes into account: the size of the cancer; whether the lymph nodes are affected; if the cancer has spread to other parts of the body Some cancers also have a stage 0 (zero). The cancer is tiny in size and has not spread into deeper lung tissues or outside the lungs. At its earliest stage (stage 0), colon cancer is limited to the inner lining of your colon. Again, the stages reflect how large the primary tumour has become and whether the cancer has spread to lymph nodes or other areas of the body. Doctors combine the T, N, M results and other factors specific to the cancer to determine the stage of cancer for each person. Plan the best treatment for you. The main tumor is usually called the primary tumor. Stage III can be treated by chemotherapy, radiation or surgery. Acute leukaemia. For example, stage 3B cervical cancer. ", American Cancer Society: "Cancer Staging," "Cancer Surveillance Programs in the United States.". These are the TNM system and the number system. There are five stages of throat cancer, starting at zero and going up to four. This is also called early-stage cancer. Size in centimetres and millimetres. Doctors use different staging systems according to the type of lung cancer a person has. These are glands that filter things like viruses and bacteria before they can infect other parts of your body. An example of this is having chemotherapy after surgery. This stage describes cancer in situ, which means “in place.” Stage 0 cancers are still located in the place they started and have not spread to nearby tissues. 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