Staging

• Staging is based on three numbers: a T number, an N number and an M number. The T is used to describe how big the main tumor is and if the tumor is just in the kidneys or if it has grown beyond the kidney. The N is used to represent cancer growth in lymph nodes: cells that are part of the immune system which are located throughout the body. The M is used to represent spread of cancer to other organs. Different letters or numbers follow the T, N and M to represent how advanced the cancer is. Then, doctors look at these three numbers and find out where they fit on the nationally recognized staging scale created by the American Joint Committee on Cancer.
  
  

Stage I

• For stage I cancer, the T number is either T1a to T1b. This means that the tumor is only in the kidneys and is smaller than 7 centimeters. There is no cancer in the lymph nodes and the cancer hasn't spread, so the N and M factors are both said to be 0.
  
  

Stage II

• For stage II cancer, the tumor is bigger than 7 centimeters long. This means the T factor is 2. The cancer cells are still confined to the kidneys and there isn't any cancer in the lymph nodes or in any other organs. This means the N and M factors are both 0.
  
  

Stage III

• There are several different clinical pathologies for Stage III kidney cancer. The T factor could be T3a, T3b or T3c. This means that the tumor has grown large and is not just in the kidneys anymore. The cancer may have grown into nearby tissue that surrounds the kidney. It might also be in veins around the kidney, or in the adrenal gland that is next to the kidney. In order to be considered Stage III with a tumor that has these characteristics, both your N and M factors must be 0. This means there can't be any cancer in the lymph nodes or in any other parts of the body.
  
  If you have cancer in 1 lymph node, then you can only be stage III if you the T factor is between T1a and T3c. This means the tumor may be outside of the kidneys. However, it can't be so far outside the kidneys that it has reached beyond the Gerota's fascia (connective tissue that surrounds the kidneys).
  
  

Stage IV

• Stage IV cancer means the cancer usually can't be cured. It is also called metastatic cancer, because metastases has occurred. Metastases means there is cancer in other parts of your body besides the kidneys.
  
  Stage IV cancer is diagnosed when you have a T factor of 4. A T factor of 4 involves cancer that has spread beyond the Gerota's fascia. Your N factor may be 0 or 1, which means you might have cancer in 1 lymph node.
  
  If you have a T factor less then 4, but cancer in more than 1 lymph node, you are also diagnosed with Stage IV Cancer.
  
  Finally, if you have an M factor of 1, cancer is somewhere else in your body that is separate from the kidneys, and you have Stage IV cancer.