Treatment of Esophageal Cancer Patient Information

Stage Information

Stages of cancer of the esophagus

Once esophageal cancer is found, more tests will be done to find out if cancer cells have spread to other parts of the body (staging). A doctor needs to know the stage of the disease to plan treatment. The following stages are used for esophageal cancer:

Stage 0 or carcinoma in situ

Stage 0 cancer of the esophagus is very early cancer. Cancer is found only in the first layer of cells in the lining of the esophagus.

Stage I

Cancer is found in only a small part of the esophagus and has not spread to nearby tissues, lymph nodes, or other organs. (Lymph nodes are small, bean-shaped structures that are found throughout the body. They produce and store infection-fighting cells.)

Stage II

Cancer is found in a large portion of the esophagus and has spread to all sides of the esophagus, and may have spread to local lymph nodes, but has not spread to other tissues.

Stage III

Cancer has spread to tissues or lymph nodes near the esophagus, but has not spread to other parts of the body.

Stage IV

Cancer has spread to other parts of the body.

Recurrent

Recurrent disease means that the cancer has come back (recurred) after it has been treated. It may come back in the esophagus or in another part of the body.

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