What Does My Cancer Diagnosis ACTUALLY Mean?

You've probably heard of cancers having stages, but what do all those stages really mean? This video is a 101 to explain cancer diagnosis and decode the jargon for you. And even if you've heard of the numerical stages, you might not know that there's a whole different staging system that doctors use too.

Hosted by: Stefan Chin (he/him)
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[BonJoviBeatlesLedZep]

I'm a Stage IV patient who is expected to survive for quite a while due to immunotherapy. New treatments have changed the game and my oncologist said that all the old terminology now has to be questioned.

[ItachiUchihaisamartyr]

As I am learning about this ... I am also really hoping I never have to need this information.
I hope none of us needs this.

[erikjohansson]

My GF got Hopkins 1, 5 years ago and was stage 4. Sounded very serious with the stage 4 part. But the doctor later explained this, Now we are cancer free for 6 months and hopefully all later check ups are good 💪

[MBMCincy]

I use captions for clarity and sometimes, I think the typists have fun. @6:43 right after the comment about "underdeveloped" the words " just like me in highschool" popped up. I took a screenshot, but don't know where to send it.
Stephan I always enjoy hearing you inform me about various subjects ❤.

[jaredkennedy]

The staging system changed while I was going through treatment for breast cancer in late 2018/early 2019. My oncologist didn't specify what stage I was at, but the surgeon said stage 3, since it had spread to the lymph nodes. When he double checked the notes, though, it was listed as a stage 2b.
On a side note, men can get breast cancer as well. If you have a nipple that is inverted, or constantly itchy, get checked out. It's much easier to deal with as DCIS than as IDC.

[Raulexs]

I was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer, metastasized to my right side of the liver on my bday. Thanks to my medical team, and advancements in chemo, and my body responding extremely well, in the period of 8 months, I had a colon and liver resection. At the moment of this post, there is no indication of the cancer present in my body. My next goal is to smash the 5 year survival rate.
Also, I during treatment, I had two haircuts.

[SavageNugz]

My dad just told me they found cancer in his liver a couple hours ago. Almost the same time this was uploaded. And youtube just recommended me this video. Kinda scary.

[MikkoKalavainen]

Well explained. I had to figure these out the hard way when my wife got diagnosed 9 years ago. She’s been gone 11 months to the day.

[PossessiveK]

My mom had cancer, from your information I believe it was s2. Then it went into remission. 5 years later it came back as M4 (she was told that hitting 5y of remission was great, that likely it wouldn't come back. Not sure how it was explained to my mom but that's as I understood it from her. So getting S4 diagnosis blindsided her.) She was blessed with a few great years after that, but then her body started rejecting meds and her last 2 did her in.

Thank you for spreading awareness and breaking things down so simply. It will, no doubt, help many people.

[vocalsunleashed]

Based on the title I thought this would be hosted by Hank talking about his diagnosis 😅

[__cypher__]

Has anybody ever read the closed captions? They add stuff! For example when talking about cells he says: "they end up looking immature and underdeveloped" But then the CC adds: 'like me in high school'

[Sarappreciates]

I made a video about this a couple years ago, but it's nice how this video goes into more detail about the numbers and letters. My oncologist doesn't like to get into a lot of the numbers with me, but I know I'm stage 4, grade 2 breast cancer, and awareness means everything to me, so thank you for helping people understand this kind of thing better. I'm told that my grade "won't typically change, " and that I should take "remission" and "cure" out of my vocabulary.

That said, I can keep words like "thriving" because I've also been told not to cancel any reservations or plans for my upcoming future.

More people are living longer with stage 4 breast cancer than ever before, like upwards of 20+ years! We still need a cure, and "stage 4 needs more" attention, awareness, funding, and love now because we're getting close to breakthroughs. My current treatment (Truqap, a targeted therapy drug) was approved just last November (2023), and I've been managing my cancer very well since January 2020.

[cosmoplakat]

I'm a 2-year survivor of stage 2c ovarian cancer. I had surgery and then 6 cycles of carbo-taxol chemotherapy, 3 weeks apart.

It's important to remember that we've come a long way in minimizing the side effects of chemo. However, it's still a pretty rough process. Remember to pamper yourself, eat healthy foods, and get outdoors for walks or other places when you feel up to it.

[jenniferleduc]

I learned about diagnosis and staging when I worked at the American Cancer Society's 1-800 line for over 20 years. 3 years after the end of my time with ACS, I was diagnosed with stage IA breast cancer. Becoming the patient is its own learning experience and education. Meeting with all the professionals in my treatment team, I often nodded with familiarity as they reviewed information pertaining to my diagnosis and treatment. But it's a whole new experience when it's actually happening to you.

[primarytrainer]

I am a stage 2a cancer patient with four surgeries behind me. I am thankful for this video though I understand what most of this means already, because I know it will help others going through what i've been going through this last year or two

[timstevenson]

Well done guys. We are getting better at dealing with cancer.

[markedis]

My friend went from first detected (he was completely clear 8 weeks before on a regular ct scan for his heart) to dead in 3 months with pancreatic cancer . He was 55

[bekkaanneee]

i am really loving the new backgrounds. they have such a good energy to them.

[TheSektor]

My dad was diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer.Died 3 years later That was 13 years ago.
My mum was diagnosed with stage 4 ovarian cancer. Died half a year later. This was 3 years ago.
It was a horrific experience. I hope that modern medicine will advance soon to cure all cancer variants and left cancer only as a bad memory.

[kayleighfredericks]

Thank you for this. I am going tomorrow with a family member for a intake with an oncologist for a suspicious breast lump. This hopefully will help me support them through a possible diagnosis.