OC Awareness Month #9 - Stages

When I was first diagnosed with ovarian cancer I really didn't know what all those stages meant. Early stage ? Late Stage? Staging gives an idea of how far the disease has spread from the ovary. Not all cancers are staged the same so it is important to know the staging of your particular disease.

Here is a chart of the stages from the National Cancer Institute.
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/ovarianepithelial/HealthProfessional/page1/AllPages#2
This is staging is also know at FIGO ( International Federation of Gynecologists & Obstetricians)staging

Stage
I	Growth limited to the ovaries.
Ia	Growth limited to one ovary; no ascites present containing malignant cells. No tumor on the external surface; capsule intact.
Ib	Growth limited to both ovaries; no ascites present containing malignant cells. No tumor on the external surfaces; capsules intact.
Icb	Tumor either stage Ia or Ib, but with tumor on surface of one or both ovaries, or with capsule ruptured, or with ascites present containing malignant cells, or with positive peritoneal washings.
II	Growth involving one or both ovaries with pelvic extension.
IIa	Extension and/or metastases to the uterus and/or tubes.
IIb	Extension to other pelvic tissues.
IIcb	Tumor either stage IIa or IIb, but with tumor on surface of one or both ovaries, or with capsule(s) ruptured, or with ascites present containing malignant cells, or with positive peritoneal washings.
III	Tumor involving one or both ovaries with histologically confirmed peritoneal implants outside the pelvis and/or positive regional lymph nodes. Superficial liver metastases equals stage III. Tumor is limited to the true pelvis, but with histologically proven malignant extension to small bowel or omentum.
IIIa	Tumor grossly limited to the true pelvis, with negative nodes, but with histologically confirmed microscopic seeding of abdominal peritoneal surfaces, or histologic proven extension to small bowel or mesentery.
IIIb	Tumor of one or both ovaries with histologically confirmed implants, peritoneal metastasis of abdominal peritoneal surfaces, none exceeding 2 cm in diameter; nodes are negative.
IIIc	Peritoneal metastasis beyond the pelvis >2 cm in diameter and/or positive regional lymph nodes.
IV	Growth involving one or both ovaries with distant metastases. If pleural effusion is present, there must be positive

Early stages are I and II, while late stage is III and IV.

After the tissue is biopsied it will also be graded. Grading relates to how abnormal the cells
look.The cells are giving a grade from 1 to 3
Grade 1 - looking more like normal cells
Grade 2 - Somewhere in between
Grade 3 - least normal looking , usually more agressive.

You might hear the terms, well differentiated, moderately differentiated and  poorly differentiated cells used to describe the three grades.


Dee
Every Day is a Blessing!