Getting a diagnosis of uterine cancer, especially endometrial cancer, which starts in the lining of the uterus, can be very upsetting. Knowing the cancer's stage is very important for getting through this journey because it helps you choose the right treatment and gives you important information about how far the disease has spread. At International Oncology Cancer Institute (IOCI), we believe that empowering patients with knowledge about their specific diagnosis, including the stages of uterine cancer explained, is fundamental to informed care. 

The FIGO (International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics) system is often used to stage uterine cancer. It is based mostly on what happens during surgery. This full surgical staging looks at the uterus, fallopian tubes, ovaries, lymph nodes, and other pelvic structures. 

Step 1 

shows that the cancer is only in the uterus. This is the first stage and the one that can be treated the best. Stage I has two sub-stages (IA and IB) that depend on how far the cancer has spread into the myometrium, which is the muscle wall of the uterus. Most uterine cancers are found at Stage I, which is a big reason why survival rates are so high. This shows that early detection saves lives in cancer. The vast majority of uterine cancers are diagnosed at Stage I, which significantly contributes to high survival rates, underscoring why early detection saves lives in cancer.

As we move on to Stage II, 

The cancer is still only in the cervix, but it has spread to other parts of the body. It has spread a little, but it hasn't gone past the cervix and uterus yet. At this point, the treatment may involve surgery to remove the uterus, cervix, and sometimes the fallopian tubes and ovaries. This may be followed by radiation therapy. 

Step III  

shows that the cancer has spread beyond the uterus and cervix, even though it is still only in the pelvic area. It could spread to the vagina, ovaries, fallopian tubes, or nearby lymph nodes in the pelvis or the area around the aorta. Like Stage I, Stage III has sub-stages (IIIA, IIIB, and IIIC) that show where the spread is happening. Stage IIIC means that the pelvic or para-aortic lymph nodes are involved, while Stage IIIA means that the cancer has spread to the outer surface of the uterus or the ovaries or fallopian tubes. At this point, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgery are often used together to treat the disease. 

Last but not least, Stage IV 

is the most advanced stage, which means that the cancer has either spread to other organs outside the pelvis or invaded the bladder or rectum very deeply. Stage IVA means that the cancer has spread to the bladder or rectum, while Stage IVB means that it has spread to other organs far away, like the lungs, liver, bones, or lymph nodes. . Treatment for Stage IV cancer is typically systemic, aiming to manage the disease throughout the body. This often involves chemotherapy, and understanding how chemotherapy kills cancer cells becomes particularly relevant here. Chemotherapy drugs are very important for treating advanced disease and improving quality of life because they get into the bloodstream and kill cancer cells that are rapidly dividing wherever they have spread. Chemotherapy may also be used with targeted therapies or radiation therapy, depending on the type of tumour. 

Finding out what stage the uterine cancer is in is important for coming up with the best treatment plan. It helps the oncology team figure out how aggressive the treatment plan should be, such as whether to use chemotherapy, radiation, surgery, or a mix of these. Our multidisciplinary team of specialists carefully looks at each case to find out what stage it is in and makes a personalized, all-encompassing treatment plan for each patient at IOCI to get the best possible result. 

Consult us at any of our locations—across IOCI Noida, Greater Noida, Mumbai, Indore, Aurangabad, Agartala, Saharanpur, Kanpur and Jodhpur.