Guide To Understanding Pancreatic Cancer Stages

Stage 2

Stage 2 pancreatic cancer is a stage separated into stage 2A and stage 2B. When an affected individual's pancreatic tumor has grown larger than four centimeters or one and three-fifths inches across, but has not spread to the lymph nodes or other distant regions, it is referred to as stage 2A pancreatic cancer. Stage 2A has a stage grouping of T3, N0, and M0. Stage 2B pancreatic cancer is defined by a tumor no larger than two centimeters in diameter that has not spread into more than three neighboring lymph nodes. It has a stage grouping of T1, N1, and M0.

A pancreatic tumor with a diameter measurement between two and four centimeters that has not spread to more than three neighboring lymph nodes with a stage grouping of T2, N1, and M0 has also been classified as stage 2B pancreatic cancer. In addition, stage 2B pancreatic cancer can include a tumor with a diameter measurement of larger than four centimeters that has not spread to any more than three neighboring lymph nodes and has a stage grouping of T3, N1, and M0.

Stage 3

Four different stage groupings are included in stage 3 pancreatic cancer. A pancreatic tumor measuring two centimeters or less in diameter that has spread to four or higher neighboring lymph nodes with a stage grouping of T1, N2, and M0 is considered stage 3. A pancreatic tumor measuring between two and four centimeters in diameter that has spread to four or higher lymph nodes with a stage grouping of T2, N2, and M0 is another example of stage 3 pancreatic cancer.

In addition, a pancreatic tumor measuring larger than four centimeters in diameter that has spread to four or more neighboring lymph nodes with a stage grouping of T3, N2, and M0 is considered stage 3 pancreatic cancer. Furthermore, pancreatic cancer that has started growing beyond the tissues of the pancreas into neighboring major blood vessels and may or may not be present in neighboring lymph nodes with a stage grouping of T4, N0-N2, and M0 is considered stage 3 pancreatic cancer.