What do we mean by what stage a cancer is? When you are diagnosed this is what your doctor tells you. It will indicate the size of the cancer as well as how far it has spread. There are four stages – I, II, III, and IV. Stage 4 (IV) is the most serious. Here is a short summary:
Stage 0 – There is no cancer, however, there are abnormal cells with the potential to develop into cancer.
Stage I – There is cancer, however, it is small and restricted to one area. This is also known as ‘Early Stage Cancer’.
Stage II and III – There is cancer present with an increased size and it has grown into nearby tissues or lymph nodes.
Stage IV – There is cancer present and it has spread from the initial (primary) site to other parts of the body. This is also known as advanced or metastatic cancer.
Medical Matters with Chantell 