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Treatment by Stage
Staging is the process the doctor
uses to determine the extent of the cancer in the body. After a diagnosis
of pancreatic cancer has been made, additional imaging tests and surgery
may be required to accurately determine the stage. Knowing the correct
stage helps the doctor determine the prognosis and best course of treatment.
There are two ways to describe the
stages of pancreatic cancer: by stage number or by surgical resection
category. The stage number indicates the size and location of the cancer.
The surgical resection category indicates whether or not the tumor can
be surgically removed. Both are determined by the size and location of
the primary tumor, the involvement of local lymph nodes and blood vessels
and the presence of distant metastases. Metastases are tumors that have
spread to other parts of the body. The doctor may use one or both methods
to describe the stage. The following chart details each stage and shows
the relationship between stage number and resection category.
| Stage Number |
Description |
Surgical Resection Category |
| Stage IA |
Tumor is limited to the pancreas and measures 2 centimeters (cm) or less at its largest point. |
Resectable/Local |
| Stage IB |
Tumor is limited to the pancreas and measures greater than 2 cm. |
| Stage IIA |
Tumor extends directly beyond the pancreas but does not involve the local arteries (celiac axis and superior mesenteric artery) or local lymph nodes. |
Potentially Resectable/ Locally Advanced |
| Stage IIB |
Tumor may or may not extend beyond the pancreas but does not involve the celiac axis or superior mesenteric artery. Local lymph nodes are involved. |
| Stage III |
Tumor involves major arteries, the celiac axis and/or superior mesenteric artery (SMA). Regional lymph nodes may or may not be involved. |
Unresectable/
Locally Advanced |
| Stage IV |
Primary tumor may be any size. Disease has metastasized, or spread, to another part of the body, including the liver, abdominal wall, lungs, and/or distant lymph nodes. |
Unresectable/Metastatic |
The following links contain more information on treatment options.
Chemotherapy
Radiation Therapy
Targeted Therapy
Surgery
Clinical Trials
Immunotherapy
The information and services provided by the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, Inc. are for informational purposes only. The information and services are not intended to be substitutes for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. If you are ill, or suspect that you are ill, see a doctor immediately! The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network does not recommend nor endorse any specific physicians, products or treatments even though they may be mentioned on this site. In addition, please note that any personal information you provide to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network's associates during telephone and/or email consultations may be stored in a secure database to assist the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, Inc. in providing you with the best service possible. Portions of the constituent data stored in this database may be used to inform future programs and services of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, Inc., and may be provided in aggregate form to third parties to guide future pancreatic cancer research and treatment efforts. The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, Inc. will not provide personal identifying information (such as your name or contact information) to third parties without your advanced written consent. 080923 |
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