Stages of Cancer

Question 1

Stage 1

Answer 1

Early stage

• A small invasive mass or tumor has been found
• No spread to lymph nodes or other tissues
• Sometimes called early stage or “localized” cancer

Question 2

Stage 2

Answer 2

Localized

• Cancer has started to affect nearby tissue
• Mass may have grown in size
• Spread to lymph nodes near mass

Question 3

Stage 3

Answer 3

Regional spread

• Cancer affects more surrounding tissue
• Mass may have grown in size
• Spread to distant lymph nodes away from mass

Question 4

Stage 4

Answer 4

Distant spread

• Cancer has spread to other tissues or organs beyond the region where it originated
• Sometimes called advanced or “metastatic” cancer