Stages of Cancer

To start the treatment for cancer it is very important to know the stage of cancer. According to the growth and spread of cancer it is divided in to five stages 0, I, II, III and IV. If, doctor found any patient positive for cancer then first, he tries to identify the stage of cancer then accordingly give the treatment.

Stage 0

Stage 0 is just the beginning of cancer. In this stage very small number of cells shows cancerous symptoms. This stage does not show any symptom which is visible but by blood testing you can identify whether patient is suffering from cancer or not. If person receive treatment at this stage then he will be cured 100%. In breast cancer, abnormal cells can be seen in a duct or in breast tissue, at this stage breast can be completely cured by surgery, chemotherapy or by radiation.

Stage I

In stage II number of the cancerous cells increases as compare to the stage 0. In this stage tumors can grow up to two centimeters. Tumor is confined in that affected organ only i.e. do not spread in other parts or in lymph nodes (small bean shaped organ producing and storing WBC).

Stage I cancer shows symptoms according to the part affected for e.g. cancer of pancreas shows symptoms like incurable jaundices, back pain and pain in the upper part of abdomen. Patient with cancer of second stage is mostly treated by surgery or radiation therapy.

Stage II

In stage II, there is no increase in size of the tumor. Stage II is divided in to two sub stages:

  1. stage IIA
  2. stage IIB.

In stage IIA, no change occurred in tumor but in stage IIB, it just starts spreading in the lymph node. In colon cancer, tumor is formed in the muscular layer of colon and in late phase of stage II, cancer spreads in the adjacent organs like pair of ovaries and urinary bladder.

Doctor can cure cancer by chemotherapy, radiation or most of the time affected part is surgically removed.

Stage III

Stage III is divided in to three sub types according to the growth as follows,

Stage IV

Stage IV is an advanced stage of cancer. Cancer shows metastasis i.e. cancerous cells now spread to the other organs of the body through blood or lymph. It invades to the organs like brain, lungs, liver and pancreas. In the new location cancerous cells again show multiple divisions to form lump or tumor and this cycle continues for many times.

Patient in stage IV is difficult to cure but by giving treatment we can increase the life, reducing pain and fatigue and control on spreading of cancer. Different treatments are used to cure cancer like chemotherapy, radiation therapy but these treatments have some side effects therefore some people prefer alternative treatments or natural treatment.