Cancer staging and grading

Why are cancers staged?

- Helps doctors advise on treatment - gives an indication of prognosis - Standardised language for discussion between doctors. - Allows determination of whether treatment is palliative or curative.

What is a sarcoma?

Arise in cells of connective tissue, like bones and muscles.

What is a leukaemia/lymphoma?

Cells of the bone marrow and lymph glands. Leukaemia - cancer of cells that make white blood cells.

What is a carcinoma?

Cells that line the body surfaces or line a gland. (skin, gut lining, cervix, mouth, airways)

What is stage 3?

Extensive primary. Fixation to deeper structures. l0cal invasion. May require combined therapy.

What is stage 2?

Local spread into surrounding tissue and lymph nodes. Should be operable but higher risk of spread.

What is the grade?

Looking at the cancer on the microscope and deciding how advanced it is and how well it will respond to treatment. Appearance of cancerous cells.

What is the TNM classification of cancer?

T - tumour (how far its grown locally) N - Nodes (has it spread to local lymph nodes?) M - Metasteses (Has it spread to distant sites?) A number is given to each of the above. 1=the best 4=the worst.

What is the grade described as?

The grade can either by low, intermediate or high. This is based on a biopsy of the cancer. Low: cells look similar to normal, not spreading quickly. High: Cells look very abnormal. fast growing and spreads very quickly.

What is the stage?

This refers to how much the cancer has grown and spread

What is stage 1?

Tumour is confined to a primary organ. It tends to be operable.

What is stage 4?

distant metastases beyond the site of origin. Surgically inoperable.