The first step in a cancer diagnosis is the determination of cancer stage. Stage 1 refers to a tumor that has not spread to the lymph nodes. Cancer cells in the brain are not staged. However, tumors in the lymph nodes are typically graded from one to four. Cells that are graded four or higher are the most abnormal. However, cancers in the brain rarely spread to lymph nodes. Cancer stage also has an impact on a person’s prognosis.
To determine the stage of cancer, physicians use a system known as TNM staging. The TNM staging system uses numbers to classify different cancers, ranging from 0 to 4. The higher the number, the larger the tumor, and the more distant the cancer has spread. Stage IV cancers have spread beyond the primary tumor site. In other words, it has metastasized to distant parts of the body. This information is extremely important for patients and their families, since it can determine treatment options.
The first step in determining cancer stage is to visit a medical practitioner who is trained in treating cancer. A licensed medical professional can perform a physical exam and use a variety of tools to determine the cancer stage. These exams can give doctors an idea of the cancer’s extent, but should not be relied on as the final diagnosis. Cancer staging refers to the extent of the cancer and is important for a patient’s treatment plan.
The next step is a biopsy. Doctors use a grading system to identify the grade of a cancer. Higher grades are considered more aggressive. But they also tend to grow slower than those in lower grades. Whether or not a cancer is stage 1 or stage four depends on where the tumor is. Several markers are found in the blood and urine that help determine the cancer stage. In addition, the DNA of a cancer cell helps the doctor determine whether it is likely to spread or respond to treatment.
Another important factor in determining cancer stage is the size of the tumor. If it is only 3 cm in size, it is not considered cancer. However, if it grows in the bronchi, it has likely spread to the lymph nodes and may be stage 0 cancer. The cancer stage 1 cancers have not spread too far. Therefore, doctors may recommend routine clinical breast exams and mammograms. Some cancer patients may also be prescribed hormone therapy medication called Tamoxifen to prevent cancer cells from growing.
A cancer diagnosis in stage one is highly treatable. Surgery is usually the first step in Stage 0-2. During surgery, the surgeon is able to see the cancerous tissue inside the body. This prevents the cancer from spreading to other parts of the body. The surgery may also require medications for several years. But the overall treatment duration for cancer stage one is one to six months. For most patients, this treatment period does not exceed six months.
