All questions · The first few days

What does my stage mean?

Stage describes how far the cancer has spread from where it started. It is not a score of how bad you are doing, and it does not change as you get treated.

The stage was set at diagnosis and stays the name of what we are treating. Two people with the same stage can do very differently.

Written by two physicians. Checked against patient information from the US National Cancer Institute and Cancer Research UK.

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Content last updated 25 September 2026 · How we write these cards · Report a problem with this card

These cards are for learning. They are not medical advice and do not replace talking with your own doctor.