CANCER STAGING (STAGE 0-IV)

CANCER STAGING

Staging summarizes the overall extent of cancer using the TNM results. It helps determine prognosis and treatment options.

STAGE 0 - Carcinoma in SITU (CIS)

• Abnormal cells present only in the layer where they originated

• NO invasion

• Highly curable

ex. DCIS (Ductal Carcinoma In Situ) in breast cancer.

STAGE I - Early Localized Cancer

• small tumor

• confined to the original organ

• no lymph node involvement

• excellent prognosis

Example: T1N0M0

STAGE II: Local Spread

• Langer tumor

• Early spread to nearby tissue

• still no distant metastasis

• Little spread to lymph nodes

example: T2N1M0

STAGE III - Regional Spread (Locally Advanced)

• Tumor invading nearby tissue

• significant lymph node involvement

• No distant metastasis

• More aggressive treatment NEEDED

Example: T3N2M0.

STAGE IV - Distant Metastasis

• Cancer has spread to distant organs

• considered advance cancer

• treatment focuses on control and palliation

Example: Any T, any N, M1.

TUMOR GRADING (G1-G4)

Grading describes now abnormal the cancer cell looks under the microscope. It reflects how fast the tumor if likely to grow and spread.

It answers the question: How aggressive Is this cancer?

G1 - Well-Differentiated (Low Grade)

• cell look almost normal

• slow growing

• less aggreseive

• better prognosis

G2 - Moderately Differentiated (Intermediate Grade)

• cell show moderate abnormalities

• faster growing than G1

• intermediate prognosis

G3 - Poorly Differentiated (High Grade)

• cell looks very abnorma

• rapid growth and;

• more aggressive

• higher chances of metastasis

G4 - Undifferentiated / Anaplastic (Very High Grade)

• cells look nothing like a normal cell

• extremely aggressive

• poor prognosis