icon icon
UNDERSTANDING THE PROGRESSION

Stages Of Cancer

The most frequent question about cancer asked by a patient or his relative to the doctor is “At what stage is the cancer?”

The answer to this question is not always simple and it depends on which cancer you are talking about and which staging system the doctor is using. Some types of cancer have more than one type of staging system.

Most types of cancer have 4 stages, numbered 1 – 4, Often in roman numerals.

pancreatic-cancer-hero-img
CANCER PROGRESSION UNVEILED: UNDERSTANDING THE STAGES

the stages for most types of cancer

Delve into the sequential phases of cancer development, from its initial formation to advanced stages, to gain insight into its progression and treatment possibilities.

1
Stage 1

When a cancer is relatively small and contained within the organ it started in.

2
Stage 2

When the cancer indicates a larger tumor than in stage 1, with potential spread to nearby lymph nodes.

3
Stage 3

When the cancer is larger & may have started to spread into surrounding tissues & there are cancer cells in the lymph nodes in the area.

4
Stage 4

When the cancer has spread from where it started to another body organ. This is also called secondary or metastatic cancer.

What is Staging?

Staging is a way of describing the size of a tumour and how far it has grown. When doctors first diagnose a cancer, they carry out tests to investigate the extent of the cancer locally and to see whether it has spread to another part of the body from where it started.

Explore the details regarding staging below in these points:

advantages-hct-img

Staging is crucial in cancer treatment as it determines the extent of disease spread, guiding treatment plans and predicting outcomes. Accurate staging helps tailor therapies to individual patients, improving prognosis and survival rates.

Depending on the stage, cancer may be localized or advanced. Localized cancer is confined to one area and may be treated with local therapies like surgery. Advanced cancer has spread beyond its original site, requiring systemic treatments such as chemotherapy or hormone therapy.

Lymph nodes play a vital role in the immune system by filtering out harmful substances and trapping viruses, bacteria, and cancer cells. They are also essential in staging cancers, as the presence of cancer cells in lymph nodes often indicates the spread of the disease.

Adjuvant therapy is additional treatment given after the primary treatment to lower the risk of cancer returning. It may include chemotherapy, radiation therapy, hormone therapy, or targeted therapy to eliminate any remaining cancer cells.

Take The First Step Towards Your Better Health And Well-Being

Different types of staging

Staging systems

Staging systems are worked out for most types of cancer. The systems are mentioned below:

  • Doctors have a common language to describe tumors.
  • Treatment results can be accurately compared between research studies.
  • Guidelines for treatment can be standardised between different treatment centres.
abt-dctr-img

Two main types of staging systems are used by doctors

cancer-free-mumbai-img

The ‘TNM’ Staging System

‘TNM’ stands for Tumour, Node, Metastasis. This system can describe the size of a primary tumour, whether there are lymph nodes with cancer cells in them and whether the cancer has spread to a different part of the body. The system uses numbers to describe the cancer.

  • ‘T’ can be 1 to 4, with ‘1’ being a small tumor and ‘4’ a large one.
  • ‘N’ can be 0 to 3, with ‘0’ meaning no positive lymph nodes & ‘3’ many positive nodes.
  • ‘M’ is either 0 or 1, with ‘0’ meaning the cancer has not spread and ‘1’ meaning that it has spread.

Sometimes the letters A, B or C are used to further divide the number categories:-

Example, stage 3C cervical cancer. P can be used before the letters TNM to mean a tumor that has been removed by surgery.

2. Number Systems

These usually have a scale of 1 to 4 (or sometimes A to D).

  • ‘1’ typically means a small tumour that has not spread and no positive lymph nodes.
  • ‘4’ would mean that the cancer had spread to other major organs in the body.
advantages-hct-img
WE PRIORITIZE SERVICE & SATISFACTION

Patient’s Reviews

Discover first hand accounts from patients who have experienced compassionate care and expert treatment at our clinic. Read their reviews to get to know their journey.

google-icon

5 Out of 5 from 92 Reviews

“Two years back had my father's major Liver surgery done by Doctor Deepak Chhabra, right now he is absolutely fit and fine. As a Doctor he is very well mannered calm & easily understand the condition of the patient. He use to explain comprehensively about the infection and procedure of surgery and its pros and cons. Respectful Doctor in the field of Oncosurgery/Surgical Oncology in mumbai. Recommended doctor by some of the best Cancer Doctors & Medical Oncologist in Mumbai."

RAMMURTHY MOHAN SWAMY
RMS

“My mother was diagnosed of colon cancer, and I was recommended to see Dr Deepak Chhabra for consultation. The first impression of Dr Chhabra was… he is so young! But after consulting him we realized his level of experience and there was a sense of confidence he spilt over us.We knew we could trust him."

Neelu Grover
NG

“Dr Chhabra is a highly experienced surgeon. He had done the treatment for my mother who was diagnosed with breast cancer. He is very patient and understanding and handles his patients with lots of care. I highly recommend him for any sort of medical advice or surgery."

Atul Arora
AA

“I,myself preferred Lilavati & then I chose Dr.Deepak Sir. I feel so blessed to know u & have u as my doctor. Any doctor can prescribe, but only a few good ones can really impress. I can vouch for the fact that ur abilities r unmatched & U’ve gone above & beyond everything I ever would’ve expected. The world would be a much better place if all of the doctors/peoples were like u! U & the staff has been really awesome & thanks for everything."

Shirajum Monira
SM
Let us know what you feel

    Available nearby clinics

    Consulting Hospitals

    our-location-img
    Our Location
    Come and visit us today
    Get Direction
    operating-hours-img
    Operating Hours
    • Mon to Sat 10 AM to 12 PM
    • Sunday Closed
    Book Appointment
    our-location-img
    Our Location
    Come and visit us today
    Get Direction
    operating-hours-img
    Operating Hours
    • Mon/Wed/Fri 4 PM - 6 PM
    • Tues/Thus/Sat/Sun Closed
    Book Appointment
    ENQUIRE HERE

    Explore Further: Enquiry Form

      Book Appointment