Some stage 3 cancers are divided into three subcategories: 3A, 3B, and 3C.
These categories are usually determined by the size and number of tumors and how far the cancer has spread.
There are effective treatments for many stage 3 cancers.
Verywell / Theresa Chiechi
Some stage 3 cancers can be successfully treated, but they are more likely to return after going away.
This article reviews how stage 3 cancer is diagnosed.
It also explains what this means for a persons treatment and prognosis.
Heidi Sain / Getty Images
Verywell / Theresa Chiechi
What Is Stage 3 Cancer?
Staging affects treatment options, survival rates, and the potential forremission.
This three-part system is called the TNM system.
The tumor has usually grown large, and diseased tissue can be found in other nearby organs.
It is also called locally advanced cancer or regional cancer.
In reality, these diagnoses differ widely based on cancer punch in.
Even if healthcare providers re-stage the cancer diagnosis, or it recurs, they keep the first staging diagnosis.
Your healthcare provider will add the new staging diagnosis to the initial stage.
The new stage is denoted with letters, like c for clinical or r for recurring.
Some stage 3 cancers are subdivided to classify them more precisely.
These sub-stages differ based on which organ is involved.
Inoperable doesnt mean they arent treatable.
It just means that surgery wouldnt be able to remove the entire tumor.
They vary by the jot down of tumor.
Not all tests are appropriate for all cancers.
These images give them a better idea of the size and makeup of a tumor.
They can also provide information about other affected organs and blood flow.
It includes tests like:
The surgeon uses the scope to take pictures or tissue samples of unusual areas.
Some biopsies use a vacuum rig to draw out tissue samples through a needle.
This process is calledfine-needle aspiration (FNA).
Tests can look for tumor markers that tell them more about your cancer.
They can test the cancers genes to learn more about it.
They can also do general blood testing to keep track of your health.
The more advanced the stage is, the more challenging it is to treat.
Surgery is often the first line of defense against a tumor.
Some surgeries involve an open incision.
Others use a tiny incision and a camera on a flexible tube.
The goal is to remove the cancerous tissue.
In some cases, stage 3C cancers will need other treatments to shrink the size of the tumor.
Remission rates for stage 3 cancers vary by the jot down of cancer and available treatments.
Treatment plans for stage 3 cancer can be complex.
They often involve many healthcare providers and facilities.
One thing that can help patients is apalliativecare team.
No matter what stage of cancer,palliative carecan help.
What Is the Prognosis For Stage 3 Cancer?
Heidi Sain / Getty Images
The prognosis or outlook for stage 3 cancer depends on many factors.
Some examples are:
Another factor is known asperformance status.
It’s a way of scoring your ability to perform everyday tasks.
You might see one-year, two-year, and 10-year survival rates, too.
It has been reporting cancer statistics from 19 states since 1973.
The SEER database does not use the TNM staging system.
But there are limitations to the SEER definitions.
For example, many stage 2 and 3 cancers meet the SEER definition of regional.
Stage 3C edges closer to distant.
Keep this in mind when you think about the five-year survival rates below.
They only offer a general estimate of life expectancy.
The figures below are from the NCIs SEER database.
It tracks how many cases of cancer are diagnosed and what the outcomes are.
The numbers below are the five-year survival rates for the top 10 cancers at a “regional” stage.
This data was collected from 2013 to 2019.
*Note that healthcare providers stage lymphoma and leukemia differently.
The non-Hodgkin lymphoma number is the stage 3 survival.
The leukemia number is the overall five-year relative survival rate for any stage.
Your healthcare team can also help you to connect with support groups and other resources.
Online and in-person support groups are available for nearly any cancer.
Summary
Stage 3 cancer is fairly advanced.
To discover exactly how far cancer has spread, healthcare providers use a variety of tests.
Public health organizations keep track of new cancer cases and deaths from cancer.
The outlook for a person with stage 3 cancer depends on more than this estimate, though.
A Word From Verywell
A cancer diagnosis is a life-changing event.
This is especially true if you’re diagnosed with later-stage cancer.
But stage 3 cancer isnt a death sentence.
Survival rates are improving, and researchers are continually discovering and testing new targeted drugs and immunotherapies.
Brierley JD, Gospodarowicz MK, Wittekind C, eds.TNM classification of malignant tumours, 8th edition.
Kehoe S, Bhatla N. (Eds).FIGO cancer report 2021.Int J Gynecol Obstet.
2021;155(S1).
doi:10.1002/ijgo.13882
American Cancer Society.Cancer staging.
American Cancer Society.Small cell lung cancer stages.
Lymphoma Research Foundation.Treatment options: Staging and prognosis.
American Cancer Society.How is chronic lymphocytic leukemia staged?
American Cancer Society.Stages of breast cancer.
American Cancer Society.Prostate cancer stages.
National Cancer Institute.Understanding cancer prognosis.
National Cancer Institute.Cancer stat facts.
