Stages, types and grades of oesophageal cancer

The stage tells you how big your cancer is and whether it has spread. The grade means how abnormal the cells look under the microscope.

Tumour, node and metastasis (TNM) is the most common staging system doctors use for oesophageal cancer.

High grade dysplasia means there are severely abnormal cells in the inner lining of the oesophagus.

Stage 1 means your cancer hasn’t spread beyond the thick muscle wall of the oesophagus.

Stage 2 means your cancer might have spread as far as the outer layer covering your oesophagus. It might have also spread into 1 or 2 nearby lymph nodes.

Stage 3 cancer might have spread beyond the outer layer of the oesophagus into nearby tissue. And it might have spread to up to 6 nearby lymph nodes.

Stage 4 means your cancer is advanced. It might have spread into other organs or body structures, lymph nodes or to other body parts, such as your lungs or liver.