(You’ll usually see it as I to IV, in Roman numerals.) The stages get more serious as the numbers go up. There are four stages of kidney cancer, from 1 to 4. Once the doctor has this information, they can use it to find the overall stage. It can spread anywhere, but the brain, bones, liver, and lungs are the most common places. M is for metastasis: That means your kidney cancer has spread, or “metastasized” to other parts of the body.Your doctor will note whether the cancer has spread to your lymph nodes. N is for nodes: This refers to lymph nodes, which are small bean-shaped filters throughout your body that help protect you from germs.T is for the size of the tumor: Your doctor will note the size of the tumor in centimeters, and whether it has grown into nearby areas.The most common staging method, known as the TNM system, relies on three pieces of information: Has the cancer spread to the nearby lymph nodes or to distant organs?ĭoctors start by gathering details about your cancer based on results from imaging tests ( CT scan, PET scan, etc.) or a biopsy (taking a small piece of the tumor and examining it for cancer cells).Has the cancer moved to nearby structures, like major blood vessels?.To stage your cancer, the doctor will want to know: The results tell them how serious the cancer is and help them come up with a treatment plan. (They’ll call this metastasized.) To do this, they’ll use a process called staging. When you’re diagnosed with kidney cancer, the first thing your doctor will do is try to figure out if it is only in your kidney or if it has spread to other body parts.
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