What does stage 0 cancer mean?

Cancer stages are often described with numbers from 0 to 4. Stage 0 refers to abnormal cells that are present but have not spread to nearby tissue. It is sometimes called carcinoma in situ, meaning "in place."

Higher stage numbers (1 through 4) generally describe larger tumors or cancer that has grown more deeply into nearby tissue or spread further in the body. The exact meaning depends on the type of cancer and the staging system used.

Stage is only one part of the picture, and it guides many treatment decisions. Your healthcare team is the best source of information about your stage and what it means for you.