Difference between stage 1, stage 2, stage 3 and stage 4 cervical cancer

At present, cervical cancer is staged according to the clinical staging standards of the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO). Stages I to IV cervical cancers are different in terms of tumor invasion site, clinical manifestations, treatment principles and so on. 1. Tumor invasion site: stage I cervical cancer is confined to the cervix; stage II cervical cancer is beyond the uterus, but not reaching the lower 1/3 of the vagina or the pelvic wall; stage III cervical cancer involves the lower 1/3 of the vagina and/or the pelvic wall and/or causes hydronephrosis or renal incompetence, and the parietal infiltration reaches the pelvic floor, and invasion of para-aortic lymph nodes belongs to stage III; stage IV cervical cancer goes beyond the pelvis and invades the bladder, mucosa or rectal mucosa, and the mucous membrane of the rectum. Stage IV cervical cancer extends beyond the pelvis, invades the bladder mucosa or rectal mucosa, or has distant metastasis. 2. Clinical manifestations: Early stage of cervical cancer often has no obvious symptoms and signs; in stage II and III, vaginal bleeding and fluid discharge often appear; in late stage, when the tumor infiltrates the bladder and rectum, secondary symptoms such as frequent urination, urinary urgency and constipation may appear. 3. Treatment principle: early cervical cancer confined to the uterus without parietal infiltration, including stage I and part of stage II, can be treated surgically by removing the uterus and performing lymph node dissection at the same time. Some patients with stage II, as well as stage III and IV cervical cancer, are usually difficult to remove the cancerous tissues through surgery, and need to undergo a combination of treatments such as radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and immune or targeted therapies, in order to improve the quality of life and prolong life expectancy. Women can be screened for cervical cancer through cervical exfoliative cytology and HPV testing. If symptoms such as vaginal contact bleeding and abnormal vaginal discharge occur, they should consult the doctor promptly, undergo a complete examination, and receive treatment as early as possible to avoid deterioration of their condition.