Development of cancer takes place in certain stages which are clearly defined by the medical professionals to maintain uniformity in diagnosis.
How cancer progresses happens in various stages that are being classified according to one standard that’s developed by medical practitioners for uniformity when diagnosing. The stages of cancer development help you to understand the mechanism of cancer as it advances.
Development of cancer takes place in certain stages which are clearly based on the medical professionals to maintain uniformity in diagnosis. Stages of cancer development help understand the growth of cancer. Staging helps determine the correct treatment also. Uncontrolled division of the body’s cells leads to the formation of malignant tumors.
The growth of the tumor from a single genetically altered cell is a stepwise progression. The process described here is applicable for a solid tumor such as a carcinoma or perhaps a sarcoma. Blood cell tumors go through a similar process consider the cells float freely, they aren’t limited to one location in the body.
Importance of Knowing the Stages of Cancer
Using the stages of cancer, a doctor may be able to give out what certain treatment is needed. Cancer all starts with a malignant tumor and if not removed or treated, cancer cells may spread to other parts of the body which makes it even more complicated to treat.
Stages of Cancer Development
Cancer might take decades to develop. You cannot describe cancer as an event; it is a multistage process. When enough information regarding the stage of the cancer isn’t available, the stage is described as ‘unknown stage’. Mostly, duration of cancer development is divided into 3-4 stages. Taking into consideration the original site of the primary tumor, size of the tumor, quantity of tumors, spreading of cancer into lymph nodes, nearby organs and distant organs, cell type and tumor grade, the stage of the cancer is decided.
Carcinoma in Situ
This is the initial phase of cancer where abnormal cells are detected but they are found only within the layer of cells where it developed. Certain tests are done in detecting abnormal cells based on what part of the body. Detecting abnormal cells within this stage can significantly lower the chances of the abnormal cells to turn into cancerous cells for it can be treated immediately.
Stage I
This describes ‘localized’ cancer. Tumor is very small. Growth of cancer limited to the organ in which it began known as as stage I cancer. This means, the cancer has not spread past the primary site. It is possible to take away the cancer surgically.
Stage II
At this stage, cancer growth is described as ‘regional’. Stage II suggests that the cancer has been detected beyond the primary site. The dimensions of the tumor is increased and the number of tumors might also be increased. When the cancer spreads towards the nearby lymph nodes, tissues or organs, it is described as ‘stage II cancer’. It is still easy to curb the growth of cancer with proper treatment.
Stages of Cancer Development
Stage III
When size of the cancer tumor is significantly large and/or when number of tumors has increased considerably, the stage is described as stage III. During this stage, the cancer usually spreads to nearby lymph nodes, organs or perhaps to distant lymph nodes and organs. It is difficult to decide where stage III ends and stage IV starts.
Stage IV
Once the cancer is detected in distant organs, it is referred to as stage IV cancer. As the cancer invades different organs, it becomes difficult to control the cancer. Dealing with the very real probability of death is very difficult. Patients are provided with drugs which help alleviate pain. Stage 4 cancer prognosis being unfavorable, the survival rate for this stage is very low.
