What is Cancer Staging?
Understanding the Stage of Cancer
Cancer staging describes how large a cancer is and how far it has spread in the body.
When doctors diagnose cancer, they perform tests to determine:
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the size of the tumour
-
whether it has spread into nearby tissues
-
whether it has spread to other parts of the body
Sometimes staging also includes grading, which describes how abnormal cancer cells look compared to normal cells.
Why Cancer Staging is Important
Staging helps doctors decide which treatment options are most suitable.
If the cancer is located in one specific area, doctors may recommend local treatments, such as:
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Surgery
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Radiotherapy
These treatments focus on a specific area of the body and may remove the cancer completely.
If cancer has spread beyond its original location, treatment that works throughout the body may be needed. These are called systemic treatments, including:
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Chemotherapy
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Hormone therapy
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Targeted cancer drugs
Cancer and the Lymph Nodes
Adjuvant
Treatment
Types of Cancer Staging Systems
Doctors often examine lymph nodes near the cancer to see whether cancer cells have begun to spread.
If cancer cells are found in the lymph nodes, they are called positive lymph nodes. This means that some cancer cells have broken away from the primary tumour and become trapped in the lymphatic system.
However, finding cancer in the lymph nodes does not always mean that the cancer has spread to other organs
When cancer cells are found in the lymph nodes, doctors may recommend adjuvant treatment.
Adjuvant treatment is additional treatment given after the main treatment (such as surgery) to reduce the risk of cancer returning.
For example:
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chemotherapy after surgery
-
hormone therapy after tumour removal
The goal is to destroy any remaining cancer cells that may have spread from the original tumour.
Doctors use staging systems so they can describe cancers in a consistent way.
Staging systems help:
• doctors communicate clearly
• about a patient’s cancer
• researchers compare treatment results
• hospitals follow standard treatment guidelines
​
The two main staging systems are:
• TNM staging system
• Number staging system
Some cancers, particularly blood cancers and lymphatic cancers, use specialised staging systems.
What is Cancer Staging?
Understanding the Stage of Cancer
Cancer staging describes how large a cancer is and how far it has spread in the body.
When doctors diagnose cancer, they perform tests to determine:
-
the size of the tumour
-
whether it has spread into nearby tissues
-
whether it has spread to other parts of the body
Sometimes staging also includes grading, which describes how abnormal cancer cells look compared to normal cells.
The TNM Staging System
The TNM system describes cancer using three key factors:
T – Tumour
Describes the size of the tumour and whether it has grown into nearby tissue.
N – Node
Shows whether cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes.
M – Metastasis
Indicates whether the cancer has spread to other parts of the body.
Example
Doctors may describe cancer as:
​
T2 N1 M0
This means:
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a moderately sized tumour
-
spread to nearby lymph nodes
-
no spread to distant organs
​
A more advanced cancer might be described as:
T4 N3 M1
This means:
-
a large tumour
-
extensive lymph node involvement
-
cancer has spread to other parts of the body
Clinical and Pathological Staging
Number Staging System
Carcinoma in Situ (Stage 0)
Doctors sometimes add letters before TNM:
cTNM – Clinical stage
Based on scans, tests and physical examination before surgery.
pTNM – Pathological stage
Based on laboratory examination of cancer cells after surgery.
Sometimes additional letters such as A, B or C are used to describe sub-categories of stages.
Many cancers are also classified using a number staging system, usually from Stage 1 to Stage 4.
Doctors sometimes use Roman numerals:
​Stage 1
Cancer is small and confined to the organ where it started.
Stage 2
The tumour is larger, but cancer has usually not spread far. Sometimes nearby lymph nodes may be involved.
​
Stage 3
The cancer is larger and has begun spreading into surrounding tissues or nearby lymph nodes.
Stage 4
Cancer has spread to other organs in the body. This is called metastatic or secondary cancer.
Sometimes doctors find very early abnormal cells that have not yet spread. This is called carcinoma in situ, often referred to as Stage 0 cancer.
These abnormal cells may develop into cancer in the future.
Because the cells are still very small:
• they may not form a tumour yet
• they are often detected through screening tests
​
Examples include screening tests for:
• breast cancer
• cervical cancer
Cancer Treatment Options
Cancer treatment depends on several factors:
where the cancer started
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how large it is
-
whether it has spread
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the patient’s overall health
Different types of treatments may be used alone or in combination.
Main Types of Cancer Treatment
• Surgery
Surgery removes the tumour and sometimes nearby tissue. It is one of the most common treatments for many cancers.
• Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy uses drugs that destroy cancer cells or stop them from growing.
• Radiotherapy
Radiotherapy uses high-energy radiation to destroy cancer cells.
• Targeted Cancer Drugs
These medicines specifically target certain characteristics that help cancer cells survive and grow.
• Hormone Therapy
Hormone therapy reduces or blocks hormones that may stimulate certain cancers.
• Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy uses the body’s immune system to recognise and destroy cancer cells.
• Bone Marrow or Stem Cell Transplant
These treatments are used for certain cancers, often together with high-dose chemotherapy or radiotherapy.
• Other Treatments
Some cancers may be treated with specialised medical technologies such as:
laser therapy
-
photodynamic therapy
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cryotherapy
Contact Us
CAN Head Office
90 John Meinert Street
Windhoek West, Namibia
Phone: +264 61 237 740
National Line Switchboard: +264 81 953 7740
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Contact Us
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3 Ferdinand Stich Street
Swakopmund, Namibia
National Line: +264 81 953 7740 Option #7
