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.