Ovarian cancer stages: How they are determined - mdanderson.org
When doctors diagnose a patient with ovarian cancer, a gynecologic oncologist will need to determine what stage it is. If you or a loved one has received an ovarian cancer diagnosis, you may be wondering what the cancer stage means – or what to expect when your doctor determines staging. Here's what to know. Ovarian cancer stages are different from those of other cancer types Stage refers to the size, location and extent of the disease – that is, how large it has grown and whether it has spread to other parts of the body. Ovarian cancer can range from stage I through IV. Different cancer types have different stages. With ovarian cancer, the cell type and grade are also important for planning treatment. A pathologist will look at the cancer cells under a microscope to determine the cell type and the "grade" of cancer (usually Grade 1, 2, or 3). High-grade cancers (Grade 3) usually behave more aggressively than low-grade (Grade 1). While many types of ovarian canc...