Staging
To plan the best treatment for cancer, the doctor needs to know the extent
(stage)
of your disease. For most cancers (such as breast, lung, prostate, or colon cancer), the stage is based on the size of the tumor and
whether the cancer has spread to
lymph nodes
or other parts of the body. The doctor may order x-rays, lab tests, and other tests or procedures to learn the extent of the disease.
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