Stage 4 Cancer

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Staging of cancer helps to describe how much the cancer has spread. Cancer staging helps to conclude about life expectancy and it also helps to design or change the treatment. Unfortunately, stage 4 cancer survival rate is very low, it's around 5 years only. This is because we have not yet come up with a cure for cancer. Let us take a look at the factors that determine staging of cancer:

Factors that Determine Staging of Cancer

* The size of the tumor
* How deeply the tumor has penetrated
* How many lymph nodes it has metastasized to
* Whether it has invaded adjacent organs
* Whether it has spread to distant organs

To avail correct cancer treatment, following a proper staging method is necessary. Now, here is an overview of cancer staging system.

Cancer Staging System

Stage 0 Cancer: This stage is known as carcinoma in situ. You might have heard that a pap smear test helps to detect early evidence of cervical cancer or carcinoma in situ.

Stage 1 Cancer: The tumors usually are smaller than two centimeters. The lymph glands are not affected by cancer cells and so the cancer is localized to one part of the body and has not spread anywhere else in the body.

Stage 2 cancer: The tumors generally measure two to five centimeters. The lymph nodes may be affected. The cancer is still considered as localized as it has not spread any further. The cancer is said to be locally advanced.

Stage 3 cancer: The tumors appear fairly large, generally more than five centimeters in size. The lymph nodes are seen affected by cancer cells. To differentiate between stage II and stage III cancer is somewhat difficult. This classification may depend upon the specific type of cancer.

Stage 4 cancer: During this stage, the tumors can be of any size. The lymph nodes are already affected and the cancer has spread to (metastasized to) other organs or regions throughout the body and there is secondary cancer. Life expectancy in stage 4 cancer is very low. But remember, bone cancer life expectancy will be different from mesothelioma life expectancy. Statistics are available which help to predict life expectancy of people diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. Lung cancer at stage 4 level allows 32% of patients to live for one year while only 2% patients of stage 4 lung cancer live longer than 5 years.

Stage 4 Cancer Treatment

If the doctor tells you that you are in stage 4 cancer, it can be very shocking and frightening. But your doctor needs to know that you are in stage 3 or stage 4 so as to determine the most appropriate treatment for you. Your cancer would not respond to an improper treatment. Again, the treatment will vary according to the specific type of cancer, patient's age, overall physical health, mental stability, etc. The doctor will know whether chemotherapy and radiation therapy will work or not. Stage 4 cancer prognosis mainly varies according to the type of cancer and the age, will power and determination of the patient.

Staging is based on the information that the doctors gather through various tests and surgeries, on how cancer develops. Cancer cells in the tumors enter the lymphatic system or the bloodstream and start developing in another organ. This is the reason why cancer grows in another area of the body. Though it is scaring to hear that you are at a progressed stage 4 cancer, you should never lose hope as there have been people who survived a stage 4 cancer and lived to tell the tale. I am also a cancer patient and believe me, with positive thinking and self confidence, you can lead a quality life by efficiently dealing with cancer. It is highly beneficial to read stories of the cancer patients as you can draw strength and inspiration from them.