When we hear of someone being diagnosed with cancer, the cancer is described as in a certain stage. Medical professionals “stage” cancer to describe the size and location of the tumor(s). This can be intimidating having a number/label associated with your condition, but it is necessary for determining treatment for what is going to happen moving forward. Not every type of cancer, such as brain cancer or leukemia, has stages. Cancer cells can grow and spread (metastasize), so this complex, complicated, and an evolving illness, so cancer not easy to treat.
There are different systems used to stage cancer.
- FIGO system – This applies to cancers affecting the female reproductive system such as cervical or ovarian.
- Tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) system – This is used to stage solid tumors which would include lung, colon, breast, bladder, and prostate. T is the primary tumor. Small tumors are stage I and larger ones are stage II. They range from T0 to T4. N is for nodes and nodes are how cancer moves through the body. Nodes are classified from N0 to N3. N0 would mean the cancer hasn’t spread to other areas. The range is based on the number of lymph node’s locations and how many lymph nodes are carrying cancer. M is for metastasis, and this is when the cancer has spread all over and beyond just lymph nodes. When diagnosed as MI this means the cancer has spread. Using the TNM information, tumors are then placed in stages. This system would look like the following:
Stage I – Smaller tumors are T1 – T2 and haven’t spread to lymph nodes (N) nor to other areas M0.
Stage II – These tumors are larger T2-T4 and haven’t spread to nearby lymph nodes (N) or other areas of your body M0.
Stage III – These are larger tumors T1-T4 that have spread to lymph nodes N1-N3 but not to other areas in the body M0.
Stage IV – This is metastatic, so the cancer has spread the original tumor to other areas T1-T4, N1-N3, M1.
- Lugano – This is used specifically for Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
There are other ways to classify cancer other than staging. Some professionals use tumor grades, Gx – G4, that are microscopically looked at in order to see the difference between normal and cancerous cells. There are other terms used as well including in situ, localized, regional, and distant. This ranges from haven’t spread (in situ) to having spread all over (distant).
Examinations are done to determine stages. A biopsy looks at tissue samples. An endoscopy is done by using a thin tube to look at organs so the interior of the cancer can be seen. A CT scan (computed tomography) can detect the cancer early and find the location Blood test find tumor markers that can identify the number of cancer cells and their size. A PET scan (positron emission tomography) looks to see the tumors have spread.
Every case of cancer is different, but these stages are the medical approach to steer treatment in the most effective way possible. There are trials and there are attempts that don’t always work, but staying hopeful and following care guidelines is the best way to work through the adversities of a cancer diagnosis.