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What does the letter after the stage mean?

ptharp
ptharp CSN Member Posts: 190
in Ovarian Cancer #1
I forgot to ask my doctor. What does the letter after the stage mean? For example Stage IIIa or IIIc.
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Comments

  • Gibgirl
    Gibgirl CSN Member Posts: 12
    #2
    Letter after the stage
    It's the grade of the tumour
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  • kansasgal
    kansasgal CSN Member Posts: 123 Member
    #3
    Cancer Staging
    Actually this website (American Cancer Society) has a good explanation of the various stages of ovarian cancer. The letter following the III indicates the depth and/or spread of the cancer, pointing out the location of any metastasis. The grade (aggressiveness/likelihood of recurrence) of the cancer is typically a number like 1, 2, 3. So your cancer might be staged at IIIc and be a grade 1.
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