Diagnosis & Staging

Knowing what you’re dealing with, and how far it’s gone.

Getting a Diagnosis

A cancer diagnosis confirms the presence of cancer and helps deter mine what kind it is.

It usually starts with one or more of the following:

Blood tests

Imaging (CT, MRI, PET, ultrasound)

Biopsy (a small sample of tissue is examined under a microscope)

What Is Staging?

Staging tells you how far the cancer has grown or spread in the body.

Most cancers are staged from Stage 0 to Stage 4:

Stage 0: Early, abnormal cells but no invasion


Stage 1: Small and localized

Stage  2–3: Larger or spread to nearby tissues or lymph nodes

Stage 4: Spread to distant parts of the body (metastatic)

Why StagingIs Important ?

It’s one of the most important parts of planning what comes next and helps doctors:

Choose the best treatment

Estimate outcomes
(prognosis)

Track how cancer
responds to care

What Happens After Staging?

Once your cancer is staged, your doctor will walk you through treatment options, timelines, and goals. You might also be referred to other specialists, or offered support services based on your situation.