Stages of oesophageal cancer

If you have oesophageal cancer, you might be told it’s at a certain stage. This describes whether or not it has spread to other parts of your body, and how far. Knowing the stage of the cancer helps you and your doctors to decide on the best treatment for you. 

• Stage 1: The cancer is only in the inner lining of the oesophageal wall. 
• Stage 2-3: The cancer has spread deeper into the layers of the oesophageal wall and to nearby lymph nodes. 
• Stage 4: The cancer has spread to other parts of the body such as the liver or the lungs – this is also known as metastatic cancer. 

With all stages of oesophageal cancer, there are options of treatments that can help you.