What Are The Stages Of Cancer?

Stage 4

Stage 4 cancer refers to a malignancy that has spread to another organ or distant area in the body regardless of the diameter measurement of the primary tumor and number of lymph nodes that may or may not be involved. Once cancer has been detected in another organ or tissue that does not neighbor the primary tumor, it is referred to as metastatic cancer or secondary cancer. Metastatic cancer is described as having a grouping of M1 instead of M0, like all other cancer stages. There are no M grouping values that exceed M1. The most common organs and distant tissues affected by secondary cancer are the lungs, liver, bones, brain, skin, breast, spine, and thyroid gland. In technical terms, stage 4 cancer has a TNM grouping that includes any T value in combination with any N value, and M1. A common misconception regarding stage 4 cancer is that all forms of stage 4 cancer are terminal. While the combined five-year post-diagnosis survival rate is low for all stage 4 cancers, individual circumstances determine a patient's prognosis. Cancer staging does not always exactly correspond with how curable a patient's cancer is. For example, a large amount of cancer that can be easily removed may have the same prognosis as a small quantity of cancer that is very difficult to remove.

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The TNM System Descriptions

The TNM system is a standard and universal system utilized by medical professionals to describe the severity and spread of malignancy in an individual's body. The International Union Against Cancer and the American Joint Committee On Cancer are credited for the creation of the TNM system. The TNM system is widely accepted internationally for most cancers involving solid tumors, but does not apply to tumors of the central nervous system and leukemia. The alphanumeric code that describes the size of a primary tumor and whether or not it has metastasized is T. N is the alphanumeric code that describes cancer when any regional or neighboring lymph nodes are affected. M is the alphanumeric code that describes when an individual's cancer has spread from one part of their body to another or exhibits distant metastasis. Each letter of the TNM system is accompanied by a number describing the extent of the tumor concerning that particular description.

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