Having cancer doesn’t mean that it is the end of the world for you. Getting cancer doesn’t immediately determine your life and death. As a matter of fact, there are many different stages of cancer that will determine the severity of your cancer. Based on the stage that you are diagnosed with, healthcare providers will be able to determine the type of treatment that’ll best suit you and help you better understand your condition.
Cancer Staging
What is Cancer Staging? Cancer Staging is a system that is used to determine the extent of the cancer within ones body. There are many different types of cancer staging. Some cancer staging systems, such as TNM staging, are used for multiple types of cancer. Other staging systems are used for a specific type of cancer. Staging systems can help you find out information such as where the tumor is located, the size of the tumor, and whether the cancer has spread to a different part of the body. Knowing the stage of your cancer can help your doctor better understand how serious your cancer is and give you the best treatment plan.
Stage I
Stage 1 cancer is referred to as early cancer. This is when the cancer is least severe. It occurs when cancer has developed inside the body, but has not spread into distant regions or grown deeply into a nearby tissue. Stage 1 cancer is when the cancer hasn’t began to affect the lymph nodes. It is also known as localized cancer. Treatment for stage 1 cancer can include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, medications, or a combination of all. Because of the fact that stage 1 cancer hasn’t spread much, treatments for it are less aggressive than the later cancer stages.
The average survival rate for those with stage 1 breast cancer is 99-100%. However, many different factors determine the survival rate. The survival rate of the patients differentiates based on age, type of cancer, health before starting cancer treatment, and stage of their cancer. For the best treatment option, patients should find an oncologist who knows the patients conditions well.
Stage ll
Stage 2 cancer is when the cancer has grown and possibly spread to nearby lymph nodes. It is also known as locally advanced cancer. During the stage 2 cancer, the tumor within the body has become larger than the one in stage 1.
Stage 2 cancer can usually be treated with with surgery or radiation therapy. However, in some cases chemotherapy or other drugs may be used to treat stage 2 cancer. Through treatment, the average survival rate for stage 2 cancer is about 60-70%.
Though this stage is considered more serious than stage 1, it is also considered less serious than stage 3 and 4.
Stage lll
In stage 3 cancer, the cancer has infiltrated nearby lymph nodes. This stage is also known as advanced stage cancer. During this stage the cancer may have already spread to nearby organs and the body has multiple tumors that have spread deeply into nearby tissues. Doctors may divide some stage 3 cancers into three categories: 3A, 3B, 3C. The categories are determined by the size and number of tumors and how far the cancer has spread.
Treatments for stage 3 cancer includes chemotherapy, radiation, hormone therapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy, or surgery. During this stage patients may need the support of their friends or family.
Stage lV
Stage 4 cancer is the final stage of cancer. It is the most advanced stage of cancer and finding a cure for it is usually impossible. Because of this, the main goal for doctors is to focus on the quality of life and reduce pain for the patients.
Symptoms of stage 4 cancer may vary depending on where it started and where it has spread to. General symptoms include:
- weakness
- pain
- unintentional weight loss
- fatigue
Treatments for stage 4 cancer include chemotherapy, radiation, targeted therapy, immunotherapy, and palliative care. However, even with treatment, the survival rate of stage 4 cancer still remains low with an average rate from 9-30%.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it is important to know about the different stages of cancer. Knowing the stages of cancer can better help you understand your condition or the condition of a loved one who has cancer. Cancer is a difficult thing that many families go through all over the world, it is difficult for the patients and their loved ones. During this time the patients will need the support of their friends and family to fight through this difficult time. And through knowing the stages of cancer, cancer patients can better understand their condition and receive the best treatment plan for them.
Cited Works
https://www.verywellhealth.com/stage-3-cancer-5092065
https://www.cancercenter.com/stage-two-cancer
https://www.cancercenter.com/stage-three-cancer
https://www.cancercenter.com/stage-one-cancer
https://www.health.com/stage-4-cancer-8594137
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diagnostics/22607-cancer-stages-grades-system
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