The different throat cancer stages have different symptoms and levels of severity. The Early stages, the cancer are easier to recover from, but they are also vague enough to identify and more easily missed than advance throat cancer stages, which are more severe and clear signs.
Below are the throat cancer stages:
Stage 0
In this stage the cancer cell develops in situ. At this point, it hasn’t spread to the lymph nodes so the prognosis for recovery is good if treatment begins immediately.
Stage I
Most throat cancers develop on the vocal cords, and then later spread to the larynx or voice box. At this throat cancer stage, the cancer is small and measures less than 2 cm. If located in the glottis of the larynx, vocal cords are able to move normally.
Stage II
The cancer is more than 2 centimeters, but less than 4 centimeters. The outlook for recovery is good as it has not spread out to the lymph nodes and is still confined to either the larynx or pharynx.
Stage III
The cancer is more than 4 centimeters and has spread to regional lymph nodes on the same side of the neck as the tumor. Usually the lymph node containing the cancer is smaller than 3 centimeters.
Stage IVA
Stage IVA noticed with any invasive tumor with either spread to only a single same-sided lymph node or no lymph node involvement, but no metastasis. It is also used for any tumor with more significant spread to the lymph nodes, but no metastasis.
Stage IVB
Stage IVB noticed with any extensive spread to lymph nodes, but no metastasis to other organs. For laryngeal cancer, it is also used for a very advanced localized tumor.
Stage IVC
Throat cancer stage IVC indicates there is evidence of distant metastasis to other organs such as brain, lung, liver, bone or kidney.
Images credit: Cancer Trial Help
