Ask a doctor - What are the stages of cervical cancer?

Q. What are the stages of cervical cancer?

Doctor Answer is medically reviewed by SecondMedic medical review team.

Answered by Secondmedic Expert

Cervical cancer is typically staged to determine the extent of the cancer and to guide treatment decisions. The staging system used for cervical cancer is often referred to as the FIGO (International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics) staging system. This system categorizes cervical cancer into different stages based on factors such as tumor size, depth of invasion, lymph node involvement, and the presence of distant metastasis. The stages of cervical cancer are as follows:

Stage 0 (CIS - Carcinoma in Situ):
- This is also known as carcinoma in situ, which means the cancer is confined to the surface layers of the cervix and has not invaded deeper tissues. It is considered a very early and highly treatable stage.

Stage I:
- Stage IA: The cancer is confined to the cervix and is not visible without a microscope. It may be found in a cone biopsy or removed during a hysterectomy.
- Stage IB: The cancer is visible without a microscope, but it is still confined to the cervix.

Stage II:
- Stage IIA: The cancer has extended beyond the cervix but has not reached the walls of the pelvis or the lower part of the vagina.
- Stage IIB: The cancer has reached the walls of the pelvis or the lower part of the vagina but has not invaded nearby organs.

Stage III:
- Stage IIIA: The cancer has invaded the lower third of the vagina but not extended to the walls of the pelvis.
- Stage IIIB: The cancer has invaded the walls of the pelvis or the hydronephrosis (blockage of a kidney) is present.
- Stage IIIC: The cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes.

Stage IVA:
- The cancer has invaded nearby organs, such as the bladder or rectum.

Stage IVB:
- The cancer has spread to distant organs or distant lymph nodes, indicating metastatic disease.

Each stage represents a progression of the cancer, with higher stages indicating more extensive disease. Treatment options and prognosis (outlook) for cervical cancer depend on the stage at which it is diagnosed. Early-stage cervical cancer is often highly curable, while advanced-stage cancer may require more aggressive treatments and may have a lower chance of cure. It's important for individuals with cervical cancer to undergo appropriate staging evaluations to guide their treatment plans and improve their chances of successful outcomes.