What Are The Stages Of Cancer?

Stage 2

Stage 2 cancer refers to a solid malignancy that has grown to a larger size than what a stage 1 cancer is, but has not begun to spread into nearby tissues besides three or less neighboring lymph nodes. The criteria for stage 2 also varies between different types of cancer when it comes to exact tumor measurements and the number of infiltrated lymph nodes. Stage 2 cancer typically has a T grouping of T1, T2, and in some types T3. A T3 grouping means the tumor is larger in diameter than the range defined for a T2 grouping, with the T3 measurement picking up where the T2 measurement left off. Stage 2 cancer usually only includes N groupings of N0 and N1. An N1 grouping refers to cancer that has spread into neighboring lymph nodes around the tumor but only up to a specified number of them. The M grouping remains at M0 in the majority of cancer types considered to be stage 2. Most stage 2 types of cancer encompass a TNM grouping of T1-N1-M0, a grouping of T2-N0-M0, a grouping of T2-N1-M0, and a grouping of T3-N0-M0.

Learn about stage 3 cancers next.

Stage 3

Stage 3 cancer refers to a solid malignant tumor that has grown into nearby tissues at a larger size than in stage 2 cancer and has spread into a higher number of neighboring lymph nodes. The exact number of affected lymph nodes and the exact tumor measurements in the criteria for stage 3 can vary from one type of cancer to the next. Stage 3 cancer encompasses T groupings of T0, T1, T2, T3, and T4. A tumor with a grouping of T4 measures larger than a T3 grouping and picks up at the value where the maximum T3 measurement left off. A grouping of T4 usually does not contain a maximum tumor measurement because it is the highest T value in the TNM system. Most forms of stage 3 cancer have N groupings of N1, N2, and N3. Cancer that has an N2 grouping have spread into more lymph nodes than what is defined as cancer with an N1 grouping, but contains an upper limit value. A tumor with an N3 grouping means cancer has spread into an extensive number of lymph nodes compared to an N2 grouping, and is the maximum N grouping value. The M grouping in the majority of stage 3 cancers remains at M0. The most common TNM groupings considered to be stage 3 cancer are T0-N2-M0, T1-N2-M0, T2-N2-M0, T3-N1-M0, T3-N2-M0, T4-any N value-M0, and any T value-N3-M0.

Discover stage 4 cancers next.