Staging
If the biopsy shows that you have cancer, your doctor will do a thorough pelvic
exam and may remove additional tissue to learn the extent
(stage) of your
disease. The stage tells whether the tumor has invaded nearby tissues, whether
the cancer has spread and, if so, to what parts of the body.
These are the stages of cervical cancer:
-
Stage 0: The cancer is found only in the top layer of cells in the tissue that
lines the cervix. Stage 0 is also called
carcinoma in situ.
-
Stage I: The cancer has invaded the cervix beneath the top layer of cells. It
is found only in the cervix.
-
Stage II: The cancer extends beyond the cervix into nearby tissues. It extends
to the upper part of the vagina. The cancer does not invade the lower third of
the vagina or the
pelvic wall
(the lining of the part of the body between the
hips).
-
Stage III: The cancer extends to the lower part of the vagina. It also may have
spread to the pelvic wall and nearby
lymph nodes.
-
Stage IV: The cancer has spread to the
bladder,
rectum,
or other parts of the
body.
-
Recurrent cancer: The cancer was treated, but has returned after a period of
time during which it could not be detected. The cancer may show up again in the
cervix or in other parts of the body.
To learn the extent of disease and suggest a course of treatment, the doctor
may order some of the following tests:
-
Chest
x-rays: X-rays often can show whether cancer has spread to the lungs.
-
CT scan: An x-ray machine linked to a computer takes a series of detailed
pictures of your organs. You may receive
contrast material
by
injection
in your
arm or hand, by mouth, or by
enema. (Some people are allergic to contrast
materials that contain iodine. Tell your doctor or nurse if you have
allergies.) The contrast material makes abnormal areas easier to see. A tumor
in the liver, lungs, or elsewhere in the body can show up on the CT scan.
-
MRI: A powerful magnet linked to a computer is used to make detailed pictures
of your pelvis and abdomen. The doctor can view these pictures on a monitor and
can print them on film. An MRI can show whether cancer has spread. Sometimes
contrast material makes abnormal areas show up more clearly on the picture.
-
Ultrasound:
An ultrasound device is held against the abdomen or inserted into
the vagina. The device sends out sound waves that people cannot hear. The waves
bounce off the cervix and nearby tissues, and a computer uses the echoes to
create a picture. Tumors may produce echoes that are different from the echoes
made by healthy tissues. The picture can show whether cancer has spread.
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