Stages of Cancer

It is estimated that 1 out of every 20 women will be affected by some form of gynecologic cancer during her lifetime. Cancer is a disease in which the genetic material in a cell is damaged, making the cell abnormal. If abnormal cells begin to grow and multiply uncontrollably, they may develop into a tumor.

When your doctor discovers cancer cells in your reproductive organs, you will undergo a series of tests to determine whether the cancer is localized or has spread to other parts of your body. These tests will help determine which stage your cancer is in and help identify the best treatment plan.

Many gynecologic cancers can be cured if they are detected and treated in their early stages.

Cancer Staging

Staging is the term used for determining how much cancer is in your body and where it is located. Staging of your cancer helps determine the type of treatment you will need, such as radiation, chemotherapy, surgery, or a combination of treatments.

Classifying a cancer's stage helps doctors have a common language to describe tumors. It also allows treatment results to be more accurately compared so that guidelines for treatment can be standardized between different medical centers.

The Stages of Cancer

There are staging systems designated for most forms of cancer. While there are generally four stages of cancer, your "staging diagnosis" depends on your type of cancer and the staging system your doctor uses.

For most cancers, the stage depends on three factors:

• The size of the initial tumor
• Whether or not the cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes
• Whether or not the cancer has spread to distant areas of the body.

The following is a basic breakdown of how a cancer is staged:

• Stage 1: The cancer is relatively small and contained within the organ it started in.
• Stage 2: The cancer is localized, but the tumor is larger than in Stage 1. There are lymph nodes close to the original site of the cancer that have cancer cells present in them.
• Stage 3: The cancer is larger than in Stage 2 and there are cancer cells in the lymph nodes in the area.
• Stage 4: The cancer has spread (metastasized) from where it started to another body organ such as the liver, bones, or lungs.

It is important to remember that while certain generalizations can be taken from the identified stages of cancer, every individual and, in many respects, every cancer is unique. Your doctor will talk with you at length about your diagnosis and the treatment plan that is best in fighting your specific cancer.