Grades in the 5 to 7 range are intermediate, which means that the cancer cells do not look like normal cells and are more likely to be aggressive and grow faster. Grades of 8 to 10 indicate that the cancer cells are more likely to be very aggressive in growth. Once cancer is diagnosed, more tests will be done to find out if the cancer cells have spread to other parts of the body. This testing is called staging. To plan treatment, a physician needs to know the stage of the disease.
Stage refers to the extent, or the size, of the cancer.
Each cancer, by organ, has its own staging system. Carcinoma in situ is very early cancer. The abnormal cells are found only in the first layer of cells of the primary site and do not invade the deeper tissues. Stage I Cancer involves the primary site, but has not spread to nearby tissues. Stage II Cancer has spread to nearby areas but is still inside the primary site.