www.cruk.org/about-cancer The stages of primary liver cancer Useful information for cancer patients Contents This information is about the number stages of primary liver cancer. There are sections on • • • • • • What staging is Number stages of liver cancer Stage 1 Stage 2 Stage 3 Stage 4 You can view this information in a larger print on our website. Number stages of liver cancer When doctors plan treatment for liver cancer they not only have to consider the size of the tumour and if it has spread, but also how well the liver is working. So doctors have developed a number of different staging systems to help with this. The stage of cancer depends on • The size of the tumour • Whether the cancer has grown into blood vessels – this is important because it is easier for cancer cells to get into the bloodstream and spread if the tumour is closely involved with the blood vessels • Whether cancer has spread to lymph nodes or other organs in the body Stage 1 There is a single tumour and the cancer has not spread to the blood vessels, lymph nodes or any other part of the body. What staging is The stage of a cancer tells the doctor how far it has grown. It is important because decisions about treatment are often made according to the stage of the cancer. The tests and scans you have to diagnose your cancer will give some information about the stage. Staging shows whether the cancer is contained within the liver or whether it has spread elsewhere. The stages of primary liver cancer 01 www.cruk.org/about-cancer Stage 2 At this stage the cancer has not spread to the lymph nodes or any other part of the body. It can be either Stage 3 This stage is divided into 3 further groups – stage 3A, 3B and 3C. • A single tumour that has grown into blood vessels of the liver Stage 3A There is more than one tumour, and at least 1 of them is larger than 5cm. At this stage the cancer has not spread to the lymph nodes or any other part of the body. • Several tumours that are less than 5cm but have not grown into the blood vessels Stage 3B The cancer has grown into one of the main blood vessels of the liver (the portal vein or hepatic vein). But cancer cells have not spread into the lymph nodes or to any other part of your body. The stages of primary liver cancer 02 www.cruk.org/about-cancer Stage 3C The cancer has spread into organs close to the liver (not including the gallbladder), or through the lining that wraps around the internal organs of the abdomen (the visceral peritoneum). It has not spread to lymph nodes or any other part of the body. Stage 4B The cancer is any size and there may be more than one tumour. It may have grown into blood vessels or the organs around the liver. It may or may not have spread into lymph nodes, but has spread to another part of the body such as the lungs or bones. Stage 4 This stage is divided into 2 further stages - stage 4A and 4B. Stage 4A The cancer is any size and there may be more than one tumour. It may have grown into blood vessels or the organs around the liver. It has spread to lymph nodes but not to other parts of the body. The stages of primary liver cancer 03 www.cruk.org/about-cancer Notes For more information, visit our website http://www.cruk.org/about-cancer You will find a wide range of detailed, up to date information for people affected by cancer, including a clinical trials database that you can search for trials in the UK. Our information is based on the best current scientific evidence and reviewed regularly by leading clinicians and experts in health and social care. For answers to your questions about cancer call our Cancer Information Nurses on 0808 800 4040 9am till 5pm Monday to Friday. Adapted from Cancer Research UK’s website in March 2015. Cancer Research UK’s website is not designed to provide medical advice or professional services and is intended to be for educational use only. The information provided through Cancer Research UK’s website and our nurse team is not a substitute for professional care and should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease. If you have, or suspect you may have, a health problem you should consult your doctor. Copyright Cancer Research UK 2015. Cancer Research UK is a registered charity in England and Wales (1089464), Scotland (SC041666) and in the Isle of Man (1103) The stages of primary liver cancer 04