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Pancreatic Cancer by Stage

The National Cancer Institute classifies pancreatic cancer using five categories, or stages.

Stage 0 (carcinoma in situ)
Abnormal cells, which may become cancer, are present only in the lining of the pancreas.

Stage I
Cancer is only present in the pancreas.
• A stage IA tumor is 2 centimeters wide or less.
• A stage IB tumor is more than 2 centimeters wide.

Stage II
Cancer has spread from the pancreas to nearby tissues, organs or lymph nodes.
• A stage IIA tumor has spread to nearby tissues and organs,
but not to any lymph nodes.
• A stage IIB tumor has spread to nearby lymph nodes and may have
spread to nearby tissues and organs.

Stage III
Cancer has spread from the pancreas to major blood vessels near the pancreas. It may have also spread to nearby lymph nodes.

Stage VI
Cancer may be of any size. It has spread to distant organs, and may have also spread to organs and tissues near the pancreas or to lymph nodes.