Stages of Pancreatic Cancer: An Introduction
When a doctor diagnoses
pancreatic cancer, he or she will need to know the stage, or extent, of the disease in order to plan the best
pancreatic cancer treatment. Pancreatic cancer staging is a careful attempt to find out the size of the tumor, whether the cancer has spread, and if so, to what parts of the body. Tests and procedures to stage pancreatic cancer are usually done at the same time the
pancreatic cancer diagnosis is made.
For purposes of this article, the term "pancreatic cancer" refers to cancer that begins in the ducts that carry pancreatic juices (exocrine cells). This type of cancer accounts for about 95 percent of all cases of pancreatic cancer.
Specific Stages of Pancreatic Cancer
Stages of pancreatic cancer include:
- Stage 0 (carcinoma in situ)
- Stage I
- Stage II
- Stage III
- Stage IV
- Recurrent.
Stages of Pancreatic Cancer: Stage 0
In stage 0 pancreatic cancer, the cancer is only found in the lining of the
pancreas. Stage 0 is also called carcinoma in situ.