Stages of Pancreatic Cancer

According to the Mayo Clinic, pancreatic cancer, which starts in the tissues of the pancreas, frequently goes undiagnosed or misdiagnosed in its early stages when it is most treatable. This type of cancer spreads rapidly without discernible symptoms until it reaches its advanced stage when surgery is no longer a viable option. Although pancreatic cancer is one of the most deadly of all cancers, there is some controversy regarding the stages of the cancer's development.

Stage I

• Stage I pancreatic cancer may present tumors, but the tumors have not spread beyond the pancreas.

Stage II

• At Stage II the cancer has spread to nearby organs but has not entered the regional lymph nodes.

Stage III

• Pancreatic cancer at Stage III presents tumors in the pancreas and has spread into to the regional lymph nodes, but does not show any sign of distal metastasis. The cancer may or may not have spread to nearby organs.

Stage IVA

• By the time the cancer reaches Stage IVA the disease has spread to other organs including the stomach, spleen, or bowels. The regional lymph nodes are also involved but there is no sign of distal metastasis.

Stage IVB

• At Stage IVB the cancer has spread to distant organs such as the liver or lungs and there is evidence of distal metastasis.