Cancer: Understanding your diagnosis

By Dr. Michael Jacobson

A cancer diagnosis feels sudden, overwhelming, and filled with unfamiliar words that carry deep consequences. Terms like “stage,” “grade,” or “metastasis” are spoken quickly during early appointments, leaving patients and their families confused and anxious.

As a family physician, I’ve learned the importance of individuals understanding the language of their diagnosis. Clarity empowers wise decisions, which is why I’m providing the foundational terms related to cancer.

Types of cancer

A diagnosis typically starts with the type of cancer, based on where it began—not where it spread. These include:

  • Carcinoma: Cancers in skin or tissue lining organs.
  • Sarcoma: Cancers in bones, muscles, or connective tissue.
  • Lymphoma: Cancers of the lymphatic system (the bodily system that fights infection).
  • Leukemia: Cancers of the blood and bone marrow.
  • Myeloma: Cancer of plasma cells in bone marrow.

Stages of cancer

Stages of cancer describe how far the cancer has spread, which is crucial for determining treatment and prognosis. The most common system for determining a cancer stage is the “TNM system”:

  • Tumor (T): Size and extent of the original tumor.
  • Nodes (N): Involvement of nearby lymph nodes.
  • Metastasis (M): Whether it has spread to distant organs.

From this, the cancer is grouped into stages I through IV:

  • Stage I: Small and confined within a capsule or “basement membrane.”
  • Stage II: Larger and/or penetrated through to nearby tissues.
  • Stage III: Spread to nearby lymph nodes.
  • Stage IV: Metastasized to distant organs.

Cancers discovered in their earliest stage are more often curable. However, in later stages, survivability decreases. In general, someone whose cancer is discovered in Stage I has a 95% likelihood of surviving at least five years, 50% if discovered in Stage II, 25% in Stage III, and only 5% at Stage IV. When it comes to cancer, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”

Tumor grade

While stage describes how far cancer has spread, “grade” describes how aggressive the cancer cells are.

  • Low-grade: Cells resemble normal tissue and usually grow slowly.
  • High-grade: Cells look more abnormal and often grow/spread quickly.

Understanding tumor grade helps physicians predict the cancer’s behavior and tailor treatment accordingly.

Biomarkers and genetic testing

Cancer is increasingly treated based on its molecular signature—its unique genetic mutations or protein expressions.

  • Biomarkers are substances (proteins, genes, or hormones) that give information about the cancer.
  • Genetic tests can identify mutations that may guide treatment.

These insights are key to personalized medicine, enabling more targeted and effective treatments with fewer side effects.

What to ask your doctor

When you or a loved one receives a cancer diagnosis, consider asking the doctor:

  • What type of cancer do I have?
  • What stage and grade is it?
  • Has it spread beyond the original site?
  • What are my treatment options, and what do you recommend?
  • Should I consider genetic or biomarker testing?
  • What is the goal of treatment: cure, control, or comfort?

Writing these questions down and bringing a trusted family member or friend to appointments can help ensure nothing is missed.

Consider a second opinion

Cancer diagnosis and its treatment are complex. In many cases, getting a second opinion can mean the difference between life and death, according to research shared by Johns Hopkins Armstrong Institute for Patient Safety and Quality. During the team’s in-depth study, researchers found that “diagnostic errors were the most common, most catastrophic and most costly of medical mistakes.” Furthermore, misdiagnosed cancers accounted for 37.8 percent of the “diagnostic errors leading to death or serious, permanent disability.” Though an additional step in your medical journey, these statistics alone suggest it’s worth considering getting a second opinion for any cancer diagnosis.

Faith and clarity

A cancer diagnosis is deeply personal and frightening. We feel as if our own body has betrayed us! But knowledge is our ally. By understanding your diagnosis, you gain not only clarity but the strength to engage with your care in a more hopeful, grounded way.

God is not absent in the world of biopsies and scans. He is near, offering wisdom, peace, and community—through physicians, their clinical teams, loved ones, and ministries like CHM. As you begin this journey, know that we are here to walk with you—through Cancer Care Solution, prayer, and shared faith.

Reference(s)

https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/news/newsroom/newsreleases/2019/07/johns-hopkins-medicine-researchers-identifyhealth-conditions-likely-to-be-misdiagnosed

Dr. Michael Jacobson
Dr. Michael Jacobson, D.O., M.P.H., is the CHM Medical Director supporting member health education initiatives, helping others encounter and know our Heavenly Father for who He truly is.