Staging is a way to describe where a cancer is located, its size, if it has grown into nearby tissues, and if it has spread to nearby lymph nodes or other parts of the body. It’s a critical step in a patient’s cancer journey that helps determine the most appropriate treatment plan.
There are four stages of endometrial cancer:
- Stage I: Cancer is found inside the uterus and has not spread.
- Stage II: Cancer has spread to the cervix but not to lymph nodes or distant organs.
- Stage III: Cancer has spread beyond the uterus but remains within the pelvis. It may affect the outer layer of the uterus, nearby tissues, or lymph nodes in the pelvis.
- Stage IV: Known as metastatic cancer, it has spread beyond the pelvis to the bladder, rectum, or distant organs such as the lungs or liver.
Doctors also assess grading, which shows how quickly the cancer may grow or spread.
- Grade 1 and 2 (Low-risk) cancers tend to grow slowly and are less aggressive.
- Grade 3 (High-risk) cancers grow quickly and are more aggressive.
To describe the extent of the disease, doctors use the TNM staging method — referring to Tumor (T) size and depth, Node (N) spread to lymph nodes, and Metastasis (M) to other body parts.
Staging can seem complex, but understanding it helps patients engage in informed discussions with their healthcare team about the next steps in treatment and care.
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