Cervical Cancer

Stages

The chances of cure is determined by the stage of the cancer.  It is necessary to know for better treatment and usually it can be determined at the time of diagnosis. The international federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics  defines cervical cancer staging scheme known as FIGO system as follows. 

•  Stage 0 - Carcinoma in situ (in place)  (Pre-invasive cervical cancer) The abnormal cells are in the surface layer of the cervix and has not invaded deeper tissues. This stage is not cancer.

•  Stage I - This stage is an Invasive cancer with cancer confined to the cervix only. Stage I cancer is confined to the uterus.

Stage IA - In this earliest form of stage I cancer. A small amount of tumor visible with a microscope.
Stage IA1 - Tumor has penetrated an area less than 3 millimeters deep and less than 7 millimeters wide.
Stage IA2 - Tumor has penetrated an area between 3 to 5 millimeters deep and less than 7 millimeters wide.
Stage IB - This stage includes tumors that can be seen without a microscope. It also includes tumors seen only with a microscope that have spread deeper than 5 mm into connective tissue of the cervix or are wider than 7 mm.
Stage IB1 - This the stage that the Tumor is  is no bigger than 4 centimeters. 
Stage IB2 - This is the stage that the tumor is bigger than 4 centimeters.

•  Stage III - The cancer has extension beyond the cervix but not to the pelvic area. The cancer may be blocking the ureters (tubes that carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder).

Stage IIIA: This stage includes cancer that has spread to the lower third of the vagina but not extension to the pelvic wall.
Stage IIIB: The stage includes cancer has spread to the pelvic wall, or blocks urine flow to the bladder.

•   Stage IV - This stage describes cancer has spread beyond the pelvis or to the mucosal lining of the bladder or rectum. This is the most advanced stage of cervical cancer.

Stage IVA - This stage includes cancer that has spread to the bladder or rectum.
Stage IVB - This stage includes cancer that has spread faraway organs beyond the pelvic area, such as the lungs.

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