What are the stages of esophagus cancer?
The chance of recovery (prognosis) and choice of treatment depend upon the stage of the cancer (whether it is just in the esophagus or if it has spread to other places) and the patient’s general state of health. For treatment purposes, there are five possible stages of esophagus cancer: • Stage 0 (carcinoma in situ) This is a very early cancer. In fact, the cancer cells are found only in the top layer of the inner wall of the esophagus. The cancer has not invaded into the wall of the esophagus and has not spread to lymph nodes or other organs. • Stage I The cancer has invaded into the wall of the esophagus, but has not penetrated the thick muscular layer which surrounds it. It has not spread to nearby tissues, lymph nodes, or other organs. • Stage II There are two substages – IIA and IIB. In IIA, the cancer has penetrated the muscular layer and may have broken through the outer wall, but has not yet spread to nearby lymph nodes or any other organs. In IIB, the cancer may have spread to
