Tag: TNM staging system

A system to describe the amount and spread of cancer in a patient’s body, using TNM.

T describes the size of the tumor and any spread of cancer into nearby tissue;

N describes spread of cancer to nearby lymph nodes;

M describes metastasis (spread of cancer to other parts of the body).

This system was created and is updated by the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) and the International Union Against Cancer (UICC), ENETS also has definitions.

The TNM staging system is used to describe most types of cancer.

27Oct 2015 by Ronny Allan 25 Comments

Grading and Staging – Neuroendocrine Neoplasms (incorporating WHO 2021 changes)

Patient Advocacy

One of the most discussed and sometimes confusing subjects on forums is the staging and grading of Neuroendocrine Neoplasms (NENs). Mixing them up is a common error and so it's important to understand the difference despite the apparent complexity. If I was to make a list of questions for my specialist/Oncologist at diagnosis, it would include "What is the stage, grade and differentiation of my cancer". To enable me to synchronise with the documented guidance, I'm going to use the following WHO 2019 approved terms in this post and then provide an update of the key WHO 2019 changes below. Neuroendocrine Neoplasm (NEN) - all types of Neuroendocrine tumour of whatever grade (please note Neoplasm is another word for tumour) Neuroendocrine Tumour (NET) - all well-differentiated tumours, Grade 1,2 or…

Wilko playing at his last show. Oct 2022 in London. Aged 75. RIP Wilko Johnson – Neuroendocrine Cancer I have been following Wilko’s cancer story since December 2015 (and what a story it is) Read more by clicking here. Charlie Chan (left) convinced Wilko to get his diagnosis checked, Emmanuel Huguet (right) removed his huge […]

Neuroendocrine Neoplasms (NEN) – genetic related syndromes

Definitions – the differences between Hereditary vs Familial vs Genetic Disorders I wanted to start with these definitions because people may unintentionally use these three terms interchangeably which is sometimes not the correct use of the information being conveyed. However, after studying this subject, I can tell you it is a very complex area and […]

Neuroendocrine Cancer: Those who know, know!

Over the years of my advocating, I’ve tried to explain Neuroendocrine Cancer to many people outside the community. Some ‘get it’ but many don’t. Most understand ‘Cancer’, but they have real difficulty understanding ‘Neuroendocrine‘. Despite how hard I try, I can see that some of them just don’t get it! I told someone I had […]

Ask More, Assume Less

This is a great catchphrase from Neuroendocrine Cancer UK. It is partly based on the realisation that Neuroendocrine Cancer is no longer rare. OK, that has been the case for some years but the recent data from NHS England cements this patently obvious truth. In England, it is now the 10th most prevalent cancer with […]

Piss off Cancer, it’s been 12 years since my “big surgery”

I’m still here I was 54 years and 9 months old at diagnosis on 26th July 2010. For the first few months, I had no idea what the outcome would be. What I did know at the time, given the final staging, grading, and other damage that was accumulated via various tests, checks, and scans; […]