The Stages of Pancreatic Cancer

I have heard about stages of cancer before and I had very limited information. My knowledge consisted of knowing there were numbered stages. I had no idea what each stage meant. I didn't even know if it was "better" to have a higher or a lower number.

When I heard that my grandmother had Stage IV B cancer, I knew it was important to find out what each stage meant. Before I began this project, I didn't even know what the criteria for classification was. According to http://www.pancreatica.org/, there seems to be a controversy from medical practitioners in the United States regarding pancreatic cancer staging. The information is as follows:


... " This classification rests on knowing the status of the TNM (that is Tumor, lymph Nodes and distal Metastasis)."

So after reading that paragraph I realized that the TNM factor was essential in determinng the stage.

I continued to read on http://www.pancreatica.org/

Here is the text on staging:

"Stage I pancreatic cancer includes tumors which have not spread into certain proscribed sensitive areas and which have no involved regional nodes or distal metastasis.

Stage II includes tumors which have spread into the duodenum, bile duct, or "peripancreatic" tissues AND which have no involved regional nodes or distal metastasis.

Stage III cancer includes tumors which may have OR may not have spread into these aforementioned areas and which have involved regional nodes, but which show no evidence of distal metastasis.

Stage IVA includes tumors which have spread into the stomach, spleen, large bowel OR the adjacent large vessels AND which have involved regional nodes, but show no evidence of distal metastasis.

Stage IVB includes pancreatic tumors of any kind with node status of any kind AND with evidence of distal metastasis"

Source: Pancreatica.org Website
http://www.pancreatica.org/faq.html#anchor2852712

My grandmother has stage IVB cancer. The cancer has spread to her liver--so this fits the criteria of distal metastasis.

Unfortunately, cancer staging is not like basketball or football where you "want" the highest number. I had secretly hoped cancer staging was like golf, where you start with the highest number and strive for a lower number.