You’ve probably heard of the terms “cancer stage” and “pre-surgical staging” but do you know what each one means? These terms describe how the cancer has spread throughout the body and can give you a better understanding of the outlook for your treatment. Stage 1 is part of the number staging system and means the cancer is small and not spread to the lymph nodes or distant organs. It can be further divided into stages 1A and 1B, where stage oneA indicates that the cancer is 3cm or smaller in size and is not yet blocking the airway.
In addition to the name of the stage, the diagnosis will also give you a specific treatment plan. Treatment plans will depend on the type of cancer, the location of the tumor, and the patient’s age when diagnosed. If cancer is detected at an early stage, treatment can include chemotherapy and surgery. If the cancer has spread to other parts of the body, however, treatment options may be limited. A doctor will discuss all of your treatment options with you.
In addition to the number, there are substages of cancer. Stage 0 is called cancer in situ, meaning that the tumor has not spread beyond the primary tumor site. Stage II and stage III cancers have spread to lymph nodes and other parts of the body. Stage IV cancers have spread throughout the body and have metastasized to distant organs. You should understand the difference between these two terms and learn more about what each means.
All cancers in stage 1 are treatable. However, treatment options for stage 1 cancer depend on the type of cancer and your risk factors. Surgery and radiation are the typical treatments. If treatment is necessary, hormone therapy and chemotherapy may also be considered. There is a great chance that your cancer will progress past stage 1.
The best way to find out whether or not you have cancer is stage 1 is to visit a doctor. It is important to get an accurate diagnosis so you can choose the most appropriate treatment for you. In addition to the treatment options available, you must be able to afford the treatment. If the cancer has spread beyond the breast, it is considered stage 2.
In general, a doctor can assign a stage to a patient based on initial diagnostic imaging test results and a physical examination. In some cases, a breast biopsy or surgery can change a patient’s cancer stage. Usually, cancer stage is determined according to the T-N-M staging system, where T means tumor size and N means the cancer has spread to lymph nodes nearby. The best treatments for a stage 1 cancer depend on the type of cancer and its location.
The next step after being diagnosed with cancer is treatment options. Different types of treatment have different survival rates and therefore differ in their remission rate. However, you should discuss this with your cancer care team so you will have the best understanding of the treatments and treatment options. And because cancer is an ever-evolving disease, new research is constantly being done. That’s why the cancer staging system can become more complicated. So, it is best to discuss your treatment options with your doctor and ask for an updated list.
