Stage 0 (Carcinoma in situ): This stage is characterized by the presence of abnormal cells only in the innermost layer of the pancreas. These cells have not yet invaded deeper tissues, and the cancer is typically not visible on imaging scans or to the naked eye.
Stage I: In Stage I, the cancer is localized to the pancreas. It has begun to grow but has not spread beyond the organ.
Stage II: Stage II describes cancer that has grown beyond the pancreas into nearby tissues or has spread to nearby lymph nodes.
Stage III: Stage III involves significant regional spread. The tumor has extended to major blood vessels, nearby lymph nodes, or nerves but has not metastasized to distant organs.
Stage IV: Stage IV represents metastatic pancreatic cancer, meaning it has spread to distant organs, such as the liver or lungs.