Staging
Staging is a process that tells a doctor if the cancer has spread and if it has, how far. Staging for bone cancer also depends on tumor grade, which is a description of how the cancer cells look compared to normal cells under a microscope. The stage is an important step in evaluating treatment options.
Stage Ia
Click Image to Enlarge.
Description
- The tumor is low grade and is 8 cm or less in diameter. It has not spread outside of the bone to lymph nodes or other parts of the body.
Treatment
- Surgery.
Stage Ib
Click Image to Enlarge.
Description
- The tumor is low grade (grade 1) and is either larger than 8 cm in diameter, or is in multiple locations on the same bone. It has not spread outside of the bone to lymph nodes or other parts of the body.
Treatment
- Surgery.
Stage IIa
Click Image to Enlarge.
Description
- The tumor is high grade (grade 2,3) and is 8 cm or less in diameter. It has not spread outside of the bone to lymph nodes or other parts of the body.
Treatment
- Chemotherapy, followed by surgery, followed by more chemotherapy.
Stage IIb
Click Image to Enlarge.
Description
- The tumor is high grade and is larger than 8 cm in diameter. It has not spread outside of the bone to lymph nodes or other parts of the body.
Treatment
- Chemotherapy, followed by surgery, followed by more chemotherapy.
Stage III
Click Image to Enlarge.
Description
- The tumor is high grade and is in multiple locations on the same bone. It has not spread outside of the bone to lymph nodes or other parts of the body.
Treatment
- Chemotherapy, followed by surgery, followed by more chemotherapy.
Stage IVa
Click Image to Enlarge.
Description
- The cancer has spread to the lungs. The tumor may be any size and any grade.
Treatment
- Chemotherapy, possibly followed by surgery (if tumors are resectable), or radiation therapy (if non-resectable). Clinical trials may also be a good option.
Stage IVb
Click Image to Enlarge.
Description
- The cancer has spread to other distant sites besides the lung. The tumor may be any size and any grade.
Treatment
- Chemotherapy, possibly followed by surgery (if tumors are resectable), or radiation therapy (if non-resectable). Clinical trials may also be a good option.
