According to the American Cancer Society, one of the most important factors in deciding on treatment options and figuring out prognosis for pancreatic cancer is the stage of the cancer. Staging describes the spread of the cancer and is based on the size of the tumor, whether lymph nodes are involved, and whether there are any metastases (spread of the cancer into other organs).
Stage 0 (Carcinoma in Situ)
Stage 0 pancreatic carcinoma is also called carcinoma in situ, according to the National Cancer Institute. In this stage, there are abnormal cells in the lining of the pancreas; they are not cancer yet, but if left untreated, they can become cancerous and spread to other tissues and organs. The American Cancer Society describes this in more detail; in this stage, abnormal cells are typically in the top layers of the pancreatic duct cells but are not deep in the pancreas.
Stage I
The first stage of pancreatic cancer describes cancer that is found only in the pancreas. This stage has 2 sub-stages, Stage IA and Stage IB. Stage IA means the tumor measures 2 cm or less, and Stage IB describes a tumor that is more than 2 cm.
Stage II
When there is a possibility that the pancreatic cancer has spread into tissues near the pancreas or to lymph nodes, it is classified as Stage II pancreatic cancer. There are also two sub-stages of this stage. Stage IIA means the cancer has infiltrated tissues or organs that are near the pancreas, but is not in any lymph nodes. Stage IIB is when the cancer has been found in lymph nodes near the pancreas and possibly in tissues and organs nearby as well.
Stage III
This stage describes advanced pancreatic cancer, with cancer being found in major blood vessels or nerves, and possibly lymph nodes. It is not in distant organs.
Stage IV
This is the last and most advanced stage of pancreatic cancer. Stage IV is diagnosed when the cancer has spread to distant organs or tissues. There may also be local spread, with the cancer in surrounding tissues and lymph nodes. Common sites of metastases include the liver, lungs and peritoneal cavity, which is the abdominal cavity.
