Cancer occurs when cells grow and divide uncontrollably, forming a tumor that can spread to other parts of the body. Different types of cancers have a variety of staging systems that doctors use to determine how severe the cancer is. In general, stage 0 and 1 cancers are less severe than stage 4 cancer.
The T, N and M scores in a cancer diagnosis help the doctor know how far the cancer has grown and how likely it is to spread to other organs. The T score describes the size of the cancer, while N refers to whether or not the tumor has spread into nearby lymph nodes and how many nodes are involved. In some cases, a stage 4 diagnosis may also include an M1 score that indicates the cancer has spread to other parts of the body.
A biopsy is a procedure that involves taking a small piece of tissue from the suspected area and testing it for signs of cancerous cells. A doctor will also run a series of imaging tests to see how the tumor is growing and to help find out how it might be affecting other organs or blood flow.
If a tumor is large or has spread to lymph nodes, the doctor will likely recommend surgery to remove the cancer and the surrounding tissue. During this operation, the surgeon will also check for any nearby lymph nodes that might have been affected by the cancer.
For non-small cell and small-cell lung cancer, chemotherapy may be used alone or in combination with other treatments to shrink the tumors and improve symptoms. Some people with this stage of the disease are also given targeted drug therapy to treat a specific mutation in their tumor, such as an epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene mutation, which is more common in smokers.
When cancer has spread to other parts of the body, it is called metastatic cancer. In stage 4 adenocarcinoma, the cancer has spread from its original location to other organs like the lungs and liver. This is a very advanced stage of the disease, and the cancer is unlikely to be cured at this point.
The prognosis for stage 4 adenocarcinoma depends on the type of cancer and how much it has spread when it is diagnosed. Some types of cancer, such as breast and prostate cancer, can be cured at this stage if the cancer is found early.
For other cancers, such as lung and colon cancer, treatment is usually more focused on improving quality of life and controlling symptoms. Some people with stage 4 adenocarcinoma will be offered palliative care, which is treatment that helps relieve symptoms and improve comfort. Other people with this stage of cancer will need more advanced treatment, such as radiation or chemotherapy. Regardless of the type of treatment, it’s important for people with stage 4 adenocarcinoma to have support from family and friends and to seek support groups or clinical trials.
