Stage 4 corresponds to a wider spread to other organs and/or throughout the body by metastasis (e.g. Stage 3 corresponds to an invasion of the lymph nodes and/or surrounding tissue (e.g. Stage 2 corresponds to a larger local volume (e.g. Stage 1 corresponds to a single, small tumour (e.g.
There are 4 stages that generally rely on the TNM and that can be described as follows: Among these are systems for classifying melanoma, gynecological cancers, blood cancers and colorectal cancers.Ī stage represents the extent of a cancerous tumour. Example: T1aN0M0.Ĭertain tumours may be classified Tis, meaning “in situ.” These tumours are in their early stages of development, before they become invasive.Īlthough the basic classification remains the same, each type of solid cancerous tumour has its own TNM staging system.ĭepending on the natural history of certain types of cancer, there are other classification systems that define the stage more precisely. The letters ABC may be added to the figures to describe the extent of the tumour more precisely. Metastases are classified according to their absence or presence and ranked M0 to M1. Nodes are classified according to their number, size and local extension. The primary tumour is defined as a function of its size and its extension to the surrounding tissues and is classified from T0 to T4. This type of classification ensures that physicians share a universal vocabulary for talking about cancer. It is the staging system most commonly used in oncology. The TNM staging system for solid tumours was developed by the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC). Staging provides the physician with an accurate description of the disease that allows him to classify it within a clinical classification system. The aim is to detect the presence of visible metastases.īesides the clinical examination, which is essential, relies on complementary examinations such as medical imaging, nuclear medicine and blood tests. There are exceptions: lymphoma and melanoma are always cancerous the word “malignant” is often added to them.Ĭancer staging consists of determining the level of severity of the disease by means of clinical and complementary diagnostic tests. When a malignant tumour has the same name as a benign tumour, the word carcinoma or sarcoma is added to the end of the name to specify that it is cancerous. Most benign tumours and some malignant tumours have the “oma” suffix at the end of their name. Sometimes cancers are simply designated according to the location in the body where they originated, e.g. Lymph nodes, gastrointestinal tract, skin, brain, bones, genitals, lungs, etc. Supporting or musculoskeletal tissue (bone, muscle, connective and fatty tissue, etc.)īone, cartilage, fatty tissue, vessels, etc.ī or T lymphocytes, cancer characterized by the presence of large, atypical cells Skin, gastrointestinal tract, lungs, head and neck (larynx, pharynx, oral cavity), cervix, etc.
Squamous epithelial cell (skin, mucous membranes, skin) The following chart illustrates the different types of cancer according to the tissue in which they originated:īreast, liver, kidneys, prostate, ovaries, thyroid, colon, stomach, salivary gland, lungs, etc. the nature of the tissue in which they develop. The various types of cancers are determined by histology, i.e. For others, it may be from 1 to 4 or from 1 to 5, and corresponds to the degree of cell differentiation. The grades for several cancers range from 1 to 3. The lower the grade, the slower and more local the progression. In general, the higher the grade of the tumour, the more rapid its progression. This level of similarity defines the degree of differentiation that determines the grade of the tumour.Ī cancer is called “well-differentiated” if the resemblance is very close to the tissue of origin and conversely, “poorly differentiated” or “undifferentiated” if its appearance is very different. The similarity of cancer cells to their originating tissue is more or less faithful.
The grade of a tumour is established in accordance with several microscopic criteria in the examination of a cancer cell, including differentiation. It confirms the malignancy of the lesion and specifies the type and grade of cancer. It consists of a microscopic examination of a sample of the cancerous tumour obtained by biopsy. This is an essential step in the diagnosis of cancer. Volunteer profile for telephone peer support.Balancing work and support for a family member.
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