Stages.
Lymph nodes.
Metastasis.
The words, letters and numbers used to describe cancer can be confusing, but they are essential not only for the doctors caring for patients, but also for patients, family and friends to understand a cancer diagnosis. This guide will explain some of the medical terms and offer insight into what different cancer stages mean for patients’ care.
What is cancer staging?
Cancer staging describes the extent that the cancer has spread. It also gives the care team a standardized way to communicate.
The stage of a cancer provides information about the size of the tumor, which parts of the organ have the cancer, and whether it has metastasized or spread in the body.
Cancer staging also helps physicians determine:
Cancer staging is universal, allowing patients and physicians alike to convey the same information when speaking about cancer care. To put this in perspective, the treatment and prognosis will be similar for cancers of the same organ and with the same stage (ex: Stage II lung cancer).
When is the stage of a cancer determined?
The first step of determining a cancer’s stage is discovering the cancer. This can happen through screening tests like colonoscopies, or when patients themselves find an abnormality, like a lump in a breast.
In addition to a physical exam, doctors perform certain tests to stage a cancer, including imaging studies, labs and taking a biopsy of the cancer. The results of these tests allow the doctor to accurately stage the cancer and formulate the best plan of care for the patient.
The Stages of Cancer
Different staging systems are used for different types of cancer, but the most common is the TNM system. This staging system is traditionally used for solid tumors, such as colon, lung or breast cancer. There are other systems used for staging other types of cancers, such as lymphomas or leukemias.
In TNM staging:
Doctors use the TNM staging system to formulate the stage of a patient’s cancer.
Stages 1-4 are described with the Roman numerals I, II, III, and IV. Sometimes stages are further subdivided using the letters A, B and C that indicate certain characteristics found on work-up of the cancer.
Treatment options are unique for different types and stages of cancer. For instance, patients with Stage I lung cancer will receive different treatments than patients who have Stage IV lung cancer, and patients with Stage 2 breast cancer will likely receive a different treatment than patients with Stage 2 colon cancer.
Treatment is based on evidence-driven medicine. Sometimes cancer patients may only require surgery. But some patients’ cancer may necessitate a combination of surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. Other treatment options include immunotherapy, biologic treatment, hormone therapy, molecular targeted therapy or participation in a clinical trial. Every cancer is unique, so each person’s treatment plan is specially formulated for the best possible outcome for their body.
Most importantly, the earlier a tumor is found and treated, the more likely it is to have a better outcome, so physicians encourage everyone to follow the American Cancer Society’s recommended guidelines for cancer screenings.
https://marybird.org/blog/olol/the-abcs-and-123s-of-cancer-stages/