When is grade more important than stage

After the letter N, there will be a number from 0 zero to 3. N0 means there are no lymph nodes with cancer. Most often, the more lymph nodes with cancer, the larger the number. But for some tumors, the location of the lymph nodes with cancer may determine the "N" category. Metastasis M : The letter M and the number after it describes if the cancer has spread. It answers these questions:. If cancer has not spread, the stage is M0. If the cancer has spread to other parts of the body, it is stage M1.

For some cancer types, factors other than the TNM categories can be included in the cancer's stage. They may include:. The grade describes how much cancer cells look like healthy cells. A pathologist will look at the cancer cells under a microscope. A pathologist is a doctor who specializes in evaluating cells, tissues, and organs to diagnose disease.

They will compare the cancer tissue with healthy tissue. Healthy tissue often contains many types of cells groups together. If the cancer looks like healthy tissue and has different cell groupings, it is called a differentiated or a low-grade tumor. If the cancer looks very different from healthy tissue, it is called a poorly differentiated or a high-grade tumor.

The cancer's grade may help predict how quickly cancer will spread. Cancer grade is recorded by the pathologist using the letter "G" with a number from 1 to 3 for most cancers and from 1 to 4 in some. In general, the lower the tumor's grade, the better the prognosis. Different types of cancer have different methods to assign a cancer grade. Biomarkers, also called tumor markers, are substances found in higher-than-normal levels in the cancer itself, or in blood, urine, or tissues of some people with cancer.

Biomarkers can help figure out how likely some types of cancer are to spread. They can also help doctors choose the best treatment. For some cancers, certain tumor markers may be more helpful for staging than treatment planning. Learn more about testing for biomarkers. Tumor genetics. Researchers have found ways to figure out the genes involved in many types of cancer. These genes may help predict if a cancer will spread or what treatments will work best.

This information may help doctors target treatment to each person's cancer. Learn more about personalized and targeted therapies. The information collected to determine the TNM stage is used to give a cancer stage specific to you.

Most types of cancer have four stages: stage I 1 to IV 4. Some cancers also have a stage 0 zero. Here is a general description of cancer stage groupings. Please see the guide for a specific type of cancer for details about its detailed staging system.

Stage 0. This stage describes cancer in situ. In situ means "in place. These tumours may be more likely to spread into surrounding tissues or to other parts of the body.

A tumour with a lower grade tends to have a better outlook. A higher grade cancer may grow and spread more quickly. It usually needs faster or more intensive treatment. For some types of cancer, the grade is very important in planning treatment and the possible outcome. These include:. Ask your doctor for specific information about the tumour grade. They can explain to you how the grade relates to the treatment and the possible outcome. You can find out about the stages of a cancer.

M describes if the cancer has spread, or metastasized , to other areas of the body. Each type of cancer tumor has its own, often complex, staging system. The following is a general list of stages of cancer:. Stage 0 or carcinoma in situ. Carcinoma in situ is considered pre-malignant or pre-cancer. Abnormal cells are found only in the first layer of cells in the place where the changes first started. The cells do not invade the deeper tissues.

These cells may become cancer over time, so it's good to find and treat them before that happens. Most kinds of cancer do not use this stage. Stage I. Cancer is only in the cells where it first started and the area is small. This is considered early stage and most curable. Stage II. Cancer is in the organ where it first started. Stage III. Cancer in the organ where it first started. The B-Cell Lymphoma Moon Shot is revolutionizing the conventional medical research approach to rapidly translate findings into patient treatment options and develop personalized therapeutic strategies.

Doctors use diagnostic tests like biopsies and imaging exams to determine a cancer's grade and its stage. While grading and staging help doctors and patients understand how serious a cancer is and form a treatment plan, they measure two different aspects of the disease.

Cancer cells that look and organize most like healthy cells and tissue are low grade tumors. Doctors describe these cancers as being well differentiated. Lower grade cancers are typically less aggressive and have a better prognosis. Cancer cells with a high grades tend to be more aggressive. They are called poorly differentiated or undifferentiated. Some cancers have their own system for grading tumors.

Many others use a standard grading scale. There are several different staging systems. Many of these have been created for specific kinds of cancers. Others can be used to describe several types of cancer.

This number signifies the extent of the disease in each category. Lymphatic fluid transports immune system cells throughout the body. Lymph nodes are small bean-shaped structures that help move this fluid. Cancer often first spreads to and through nearby lymph nodes. We often hear about lymph nodes when we talk about how cancer spreads.

At MD Anderson , our doctors often use sentinel lymph node biopsies because, in many cases, they help better detect cancer. We spoke with head and neck surgeon Stephen Lai, M.

Sentinel lymph nodes are an important part of the immune system, and they contain the cells that monitor foreign substances, like bacteria, viruses and cancer. Sentinel lymph node mapping helps to identify the lymph nodes that are at highest risk for containing cancer.

A sentinel lymph node biopsy SLNB is a surgical approach to identify and remove the sentinel lymph node to determine if the cancer has spread, and if so, how far. In most cases, a negative sentinel lymph node biopsy means the cancer has not spread. A positive biopsy means cancer was found in the lymph node.