In general, gynecologic cancers are divided into stages 0 through IV, depending upon how deep they penetrate the organ in which they started, whether they have invaded nearby tissues or lymph nodes, and whether they have spread to other organs.
Stage 0 is known as carcinoma in situ, which is often not considered true cancer but simply abnormal cells, or very early cancer that is very localized. Later stages have spread deeper into the affected tissues or spread to nearby tissues or organs.
Cervical Cancer Stages
Cervical cancer stages indicate the extent to which the cancer has spread throughout the body.
- Stage 0: This stage (carcinoma in situ) consists of abnormal cells in the cervix that have not yet become cancerous (dysplasia). Treatment is very successful at preventing these cells from developing into cancer.
- Stage I: Actual cancer is found in the cervix only. The cancerous cells have not spread beyond the cervix.
- Stage II: Cancer has spread beyond the cervix to the upper parts of the vagina but not to the pelvic wall (the lining between the hips).
- Stage III: The cancer has spread to the lower part of the vagina and may have infiltrated the pelvic wall. It may have begun to block the flow of urine, reducing kidney function.
- Stage IV: Cancer has spread to the bladder, rectum, or to other organs. It may have also spread to the lymph nodes in the pelvis.
Ovarian Cancer Stages
Ovarian cancers are divided into stages to indicate how advanced the cancer is.
- Stage I: Ovarian cancer is in the ovaries only.
- Stage II: The cancer has spread to the uterus, fallopian tubes, or other nearby areas. It has not spread to lymph nodes.
- Stage III: The cancer has spread to lymph nodes in the abdomen, or it has spread to areas outside the pelvis, such as the lining of the abdomen.
- Stage IV: The cancer has spread to organs outside the abdomen, such as the liver or the lungs.
Uterine Cancer Stages
Uterine cancer is divided into stages to indicate how advanced the cancer is.
- Stage 0: Also called carcinoma in situ, the cells are very early stage cancer and are found in only one layer of the uterine lining.
- Stage I: Cancer has not spread beyond the uterus.
- Stage II: Cancer has spread to the cervix (the lower neck of the uterus) but not beyond.
- Stage III: Cancer has spread beyond the uterus and the cervix in the pelvis or to lymph nodes.
- Stage IV: Cancer has spread to the bladder, bowel, or to the abdomen or groin.
Learn more about gynecologic cancer:
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