What Are The Stages Of Cancer?

Stage 3

Stage 3 cancer refers to a solid malignant tumor that has grown into nearby tissues at a larger size than in stage 2 cancer and has spread into a higher number of neighboring lymph nodes. The exact number of affected lymph nodes and the exact tumor measurements in the criteria for stage 3 can vary from one type of cancer to the next. Stage 3 cancer encompasses T groupings of T0, T1, T2, T3, and T4. A tumor with a grouping of T4 measures larger than a T3 grouping and picks up at the value where the maximum T3 measurement left off. A grouping of T4 usually does not contain a maximum tumor measurement because it is the highest T value in the TNM system. Most forms of stage 3 cancer have N groupings of N1, N2, and N3. Cancer that has an N2 grouping have spread into more lymph nodes than what is defined as cancer with an N1 grouping, but contains an upper limit value. A tumor with an N3 grouping means cancer has spread into an extensive number of lymph nodes compared to an N2 grouping, and is the maximum N grouping value. The M grouping in the majority of stage 3 cancers remains at M0. The most common TNM groupings considered to be stage 3 cancer are T0-N2-M0, T1-N2-M0, T2-N2-M0, T3-N1-M0, T3-N2-M0, T4-any N value-M0, and any T value-N3-M0.

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