Guide To Understanding Pancreatic Cancer Stages

Stage 3

Four different stage groupings are included in the stage 3 classification of 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 pancreatic cancer. 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. 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.

Get familiar with stage 4 pancreatic cancer next.