What Are The Stages Of Cancer?

Stage 1

Stage 1 cancer refers to a malignancy that is small in size and has not spread beyond its original location to the lymph nodes or other distant areas in the body. Each different type of cancer has criteria for what stage 1 is defined as with reference to the TNM system. The N and M groupings almost always remain at N0 and M0 in stage 1 cancer, indicating cancer has not spread into neighboring lymph nodes or distant tissues. In the staging criteria for most cancer types, the T grouping in stage 1 cancer is T1. A T1 grouping usually includes a maximum diameter measurement for the solid tumor. For example, a tumor in the breast that measures up to two centimeters across has a T1 grouping. Some types of cancer include a grouping of T2 with an increased tumor diameter measurement threshold that picks up where the T1 grouping left off. The majority of stage 1 cancers have a TNM grouping of T1-N0-M0 or T2-N0-M0.

Continue reading to learn about stage 2 cancers next.