Staging
Staging is a process that tells a doctor if the cancer has spread, and if it has, how far. The stage is assigned based on where the cancer is detected at the time of surgery. It depends on the location of the tumor within the uterus itself (invasion into the muscle wall) as well as spread to areas outside of the uterus including other pelvic organs and lymph nodes. Staging is an important factor in evaluating prognosis and treatment options.
Stage Ia
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Description
- Cancer is found in the endometrium and may have also grown into the inner half of the myometrium or the glands in the cervix.
Stage Ib
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Description
- Cancer has grown into the outer half of the endometrium.
Stage II
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Description
- Cancer has invaded the connective tissues of the cervix, but has not invaded outside of the uterus to the lymph nodes or other areas of the body.
Stage IIIa
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Description
- Cancer has spread to the outer layer of the uterus (serosa) and/or to adjacent organs in the pelvis, such as the ovaries or fallopian tubes.
Stage IIIb
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Description
- Cancer has invaded the vagina and/or the parametrium (connective tissue and fat around the uterus).
Stage IIIc
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Description
Cancer has spread to the lymph nodes in the pelvis and/or around the aorta.
- IIIC1: involves only the lymph nodes of the pelvis.
- IIIC2: involves the lymph nodes around the aorta with or without lymph nodes in the pelvis
Stage IVa
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Description
- Cancer has spread to the bladder or rectum.
Stage IVb
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Description
- Cancer has spread outside of the pelvis. It may be found in the abdominal cavity, the lungs, or lymph nodes in the groin.
