For a complete diagnosis, the doctor will need to determine the features of the cancer cells (grade) and also how much the disease has grown and spread in the body (stage). Grade is important, because the characteristics of the cells are often connected with how the cells behave and how aggressively they will grow. Knowing the stage of the cancer is important, because it helps determine prognosis. Early stage cancers may be more treatable with surgery and chemotherapy, whereas later stage cancers may need more aggressive treatment and long-term care. Both stage and grade are determined after the first surgery and remain constant throughout the patient's journey with the disease.