Stages of Pancreatic Cancer

Cancer staging describes the size of the cancer and how far it has spread from the original site in the body, if it has spread. The stage helps determine treatment options and can identify appropriate clinical trials.

Staging cancer is a standardized way to classify a tumor based on its size, whether it has spread, and where it has spread. In other words, staging measures the extent of the disease. Knowing the stage of cancer helps doctors determine which treatment options are the best approach.

Stage

Stage Ia

The tumor in the pancreas is 2cm or smaller and has not spread to lymph nodes or other parts of the body.

Stage Ib

The tumor in the pancreas is larger than 2cm and has not spread to lymph nodes or other parts of the body.

Stage IIa

The tumor extends beyond the pancreas but has not spread to nearby lymph nodes, major blood vessels, or other parts of the body.

Stage IIb

The tumor is any size and is either limited to or extends beyond the pancreas and has spread to lymph nodes but not to major blood vessels or other parts of the body.

Stage I and II cancers that have not spread beyond the pancreas may be resectable, or able to be surgically removed.

Stage III

The tumor has spread to nearby blood vessels, may or may not have spread to nearby lymph nodes, but the cancer has not spread to other parts of the body. Cancer in this stage is considered to be locally advanced.