Ovarian cancer is one of the dreadful diseases that women may suffer; and they may go through different ovarian cancer stages. It has a high incidence wherein in United States alone 20,000 women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer and around 15,000 die each year because of the disease.
Ovarian cancer stages are divided into four different stages with sub-stages. The stages would be determined by the location of the cancer cells. This are system determined stages by the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics.
For us to learn more about the ovarian cancer stages here are some information that may help us understand cancer stages more. The later the cancer is discovered, the more difficult it becomes to treat.
Stage I is the earliest stage in ovarian cancer stages. At this stage, ovarian cancer is further divided in three sub-stages which are the Stage IA, Stage IB and Stage IC. In Stage IA the cancer is already present inside one of the two ovaries and no cancer cells are found other than that location. In stage IB, cancer is already present inside both ovaries and no cancer cells can be found in other location even in the surface of the ovaries. In stage IC, this is a more advanced stage where cancer cells are already found inside and at the surface of one or both of the ovaries. The tumor’s outer covering has already ruptured and cancer cells have now reached the abdomen’s tissue or fluid lining.
Stage two is next in ovarian cancer stages. This stage is also subdivided into three sub-stages that are also determined where cancer cells are now located. At this stage the cancer cells are found in one or both of the ovaries and have already spread to the other organs found in the pelvic region. In stage IIA cancer has already spread into the fallopian tubes or the uterus or even both. In Stage IIB, cancer can now be found not just in one or both of the ovaries but it can also be found in the bladder or the rectum or even in the sigmoid colon. Stage IIC is more advanced where cancer can now be found in one or both ovaries spreading to the fallopian tubes, the uterus, rectum, sigmoid colon and the bladder. Cancer is now also present in the tissue and the fluid samples of the abdominal cavity’s lining.
In stage III of the ovarian cancer stages, it is more advanced with cancer being found in one or both ovaries and had already spread into the abdomen. This stage has three sub-stages. In stage IIIA, cancer can be found in both ovaries and a small part of the abdomen is already affected. In stage IIIB, cancer has already spread in the peritoneum in about less than 2 cm other than in its original location in one or both of the ovaries. In stage IIIC, cancer can now be found in one or both of the ovaries and had spread more than 2 cm in the peritoneum. Cancer at this stage has also spread to the lymph nodes.
Stage IV is the most advanced in ovarian cancer stages wherein cancer has spread wide enough. At this stage, other than in one or both ovaries, it can also be found in the different parts of the body. Cancer at this stage may have reached the liver and the lungs.
These are the ovarian cancer stages that you may want to know. When you hear a doctor giving out an ovarian cancer diagnosis, you would know how far it already has affected your body.
