Contents:
- Medical Video: Breast Cancer | Staging | Nucleus Health
- How important is the stage of cancer?
- What are the stages of cancer stage given by the doctor?
- Number system
- TNM System
Medical Video: Breast Cancer | Staging | Nucleus Health
Determining the stage of cancer is an important way to describe the size of the cancer and the extent to which cancer growth has occurred. When the doctor first diagnoses cancer, the doctor will detect the extent to which the condition of the cancer develops, the extent to which the cancer has spread, or whether it has spread to other parts of the body. So, what are the stages of the cancer stage? See below.
How important is the stage of cancer?
Of course this is very important, because the stage of cancer that will determine the treatment will be given. Doctors usually recommend local treatments such as surgery or radiotherapy if the cancer is only in one place.
However, the treatment given will be different when the cancer has spread to other body parts. In case the cancer has spread (metastasis), the doctor may recommend:
- Chemotherapy.
- Hormone therapy.
- Specially targeted cancer drugs.
Without knowing the stage, it is difficult to determine what treatment should be given.
What are the stages of cancer stage given by the doctor?
In general, there are 2 stages to determine the condition of the cancer is as severe as the number system and the TNM system.
Number system
- Stage 0 meaning there is no cancer, only abnormal cells with the potential to become cancerous. This stage is also called carcinoma in situ.
- Stage I meaning the cancer is small and only exists in one area. This is also called early stage cancer.
- Stage II and III meaning that the cancer condition is larger and has grown in other nearby tissues or in the lymph nodes.
- Stage IV, meaning cancer after spreading to other parts of the body. This is also called advanced cancer or metastasis.
TNM System
The TNM system is an extension of tumors, nodes and metastases.
- Tumor (T): T will be followed by a number 0-4. This is to tell you how big the tumor is. For example, "T0: means that no tumor can be measured. The higher the number, the bigger the tumor.
- Nodes (N): N will be followed by a number 0-3. This is intended to tell you if the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes. These glands are glands that fight viruses and bacteria before infecting parts of your body. "N0" means that your lymph nodes are not involved. The higher the number, the more the spread of cancer cells in the lymph nodes.
- Metastasis (M): M followed by 0 or 1. If the cancer has spread to organs and tissues in other parts of the body then you will be classified as "M1". Whereas if there is no spread, the cancer condition is declared "M0".
