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Staging is a method of determining if the cancer is spreading and if so to which extent. Various stages of any disease require different treatment plans since the effects of the treatment may vary from one stage to another. If you have more questions, visit this site and know the answers to FAQ.
Understanding various squamous cell carcinoma stages
The extent and the size of the tumor determine the stage of cancer. It enables the determination of the extent that cancer has spread to the lymph nodes.
The biopsy results enable the doctor to determine the stage of cancer. The doctor will further recommend PET-CT imaging or CT imaging if any signs of squamous cell carcinoma are present. This helps your doctor to know if cancer has spread further to the skin layer.
Stage 0
This is the initial stage of cancer. The cancer cells are only present in the original beginning tumor location in the skin. The infection is only at the epidermis with the dermis being intact. This stage 0 is known as carcinoma in situ.
Stage 1
The spread of cancer is about 2 centimeters or less. The dermis is also affected at this stage. Muscles, bones, and cartilages are not affected by cancer at this stage. The risk factors at this stage are less than two and relatively low. Treatment is possible at this stage.
Stage 2
The tumor has advanced more than 2 centimeters in coverage. The spread is beyond the dermis as the epidermis is fully affected. Cancer has not invaded other body parts like the bones, muscles, cartilages and the spread is not beyond the skin organ. More than two risk factors may be present at this stage. The size of the tumor may also vary at this stage.
Stage 3
At this stage, the spread is beyond the skin such as the organs and tissues beyond the skin. Such tissues affected may include lymph nodes, bones, and cartilages.
Stage 4
Cancer has spread to other body organs and the nearby lymph nodes. Body organs such as the liver, brain, skull base among others. Most of the non-melanoma cancers affecting the skin are of stage 0 and 1 with stage 3 and 4 is very rare.
