Stages Of Stomach Cancer
After the diagnosis has been made, the doctors perform several tests for the identification of the stage and extent of the cancer. Stomach cancer has been divided into 5 stages [6]
Stage 0:
This is the earliest stage of cancer and also termed as carcinoma in situ. It is the stage where abnormal cells are identified in the upper most lining of the stomach called the mucosa. These abnormal cells are the origin of the cancer. There is a very rare chance of cancer identification at this stage.
Stage I:
This stage is further divided into IA and IB, depending on the cancer formation and invasion into the surrounding layers.
- IA: this stage is recognized if the cancer has reached the submucosa which is the layer that lies beneath the mucosa.
- IB: this stage is recognized when the cancer has spread through the submucosa and reached 1 lymph node or 2 near the tumor, or if it has reached the Muscularis Propia layer.
Stage 2:
This stage is locally advanced cancer. In this stage cancer has surpassed the inner layer, mucosa, and the supportive layer and has reached the outer layer of the stomach and occupied nearby lymph nodes. This stage is also characterized by the invasion of the outermost layer of the stomach called serosa. The cancer has reached nearly 6 lymph nodes of the stomach, but still hasn’t reached the lymph nodes of the nearby organ.
Stage 3:
The cancer has already surpassed the inner layers i.e. mucosa, submucosa, muscularis propia and serosa. The tumor cells now have reached the nearby organs, such as spleen, liver and diaphragm etc. There is an involvement of 7 nearby lymph nodes.
Stage 4:
This stage of cancer is very difficult to treat as compared to earlier stages. In this stage, the cancer has spread to the distant parts of the body. It is the metastatic form of cancer. The cancer has spread to the lymph nodes of different and far away organs.