Pancreatic Cancer Stages of Death

Cancer can affect the pancreas, an organ found between the stomach and the spine. The pancreas aids in digestion and produces hormones. The five stages of pancreatic cancer range from the first finding of abnormal cells until the final stage, which results in death 99 percent of the time, according to the American Cancer Society.

Stage 0

• In this stage, abnormal cells have just been found in the pancreas wall. These abnormal cells may become cancerous.

Stage I

• In Stage I, the abnormal cells have turned into cancer and are found in the pancreas. In Stage IA, the tumor is smaller than 2 centimeters, whereas in Stage IB, it is larger than 2 centimeters.

Stage II

• In Stage IIA, the cancer has spread to tissues near the pancreas. In Stage IIB, the cancer may have spread to the tissues and has spread to the lymph nodes surrounding the pancreas.

Stage III

• During Stage III of pancreatic cancer, the cancerous cells have spread beyond the pancreas to nearby lymph nodes and most likely to blood vessels as well.

Stage IV

• Cancer in Stage IV has spread not only to nearby tissues and lymph nodes but also to other organs in the body such as the lungs or liver. The five-year survival rate at this point is just 1 percent.