What is the difference between cancer stage and grade?
Stage describes how far cancer has spread. Grade describes how abnormal its cells look under the microscope and what that may suggest about behaviour. Biomarkers and other factors also guide care. Stage alone is not an individual life-expectancy prediction.
Details
How is stage established?
Examination, imaging and biopsy findings are combined. Clinical stage before surgery may differ from pathological stage afterward. Many cancers use a system describing the tumour, lymph nodes and distant spread, but blood and brain cancers may use different classifications.
Why grade is different
Grade comes from tissue examination, with systems that vary by cancer type. Grade three is not interchangeable with stage three or with the same grade in another cancer. Ask for an explanation of your own report.
Questions for the consultation
Ask about the cancer type, stage, grade, relevant biomarkers and any outstanding tests. Treatment goals and options also depend on health and preferences. Population statistics cannot predict an individual’s course with certainty.
Related reading: What is a PET-CT scan, and when does it help in cancer care?.