Stage Fright
The many stages of cancer and what they mean
When Tegan and Sara discussed knowing people with Stage IV cancer who used cannabis to ease their pain and suffering—it underscored the plant’s ability to help people even under the most dire of medical circumstances. And cancer can be dire indeed. Cancer is, in simplest terms, when a cell refuses to die. One ray of hope is how cannabis can help brief relief to cancer patients undergoing radiatio
The many stages of cancer and what they mean
When Tegan and Sara discussed knowing people with Stage IV cancer who used cannabis to ease their pain and suffering—it underscored the plant’s ability to help people even under the most dire of medical circumstances. And cancer can be dire indeed. Cancer is, in simplest terms, when a cell refuses to die. One ray of hope is how cannabis can help brief relief to cancer patients undergoing radiation and chemo, or stimulate the appetite of those who would otherwise waste away.
Here is a basic explanation about cancer’s various stages. The overall staging system uses Roman numerals to rank the severity of cancer
Stage 0 is when a cell becomes cancerous. It can join with other cells and produce a tumor, but this is not always the case. It’s not life-threatening and is referred to as in situ (in one location) or “pre-cancer.” Some cancers never go beyond this stage and they can be easily removed.
Stage I is where the cancer takes root. It invades neighboring tissue. The cancer is growing and may take the form of a lump. This lump is localized and benign. At this stage, it can be easily treated and removed.
Stage II is where things begin to get complicated. When a cancer cell has reproduced enough, the newly infected cells can spread. They will head for the lymph nodes, which may become partially infected. The lymph nodes are a huge parts of your body’s immune system, and this is not a good sign.
Stage III is closely connected to Stage II. In Stage II, a body has a chance of producing an immune response which destroys the cancer cells. It advances to this stage when this fails and the lymph nodes are completely taken. A lump is formed on the nodes. Treatment is a must at this stage.
Stage IV is the worst-case scenario. Cells from the lump may spread and enter the blood stream. Once there, they can spread and form new colonies. This is when the cancer becomes malignant. There is a slight possibility of recovery with treatment, surgery, and lots of medication, but the outlook is not promising.
