Urethral cancer

Staging describes how far cancer has grown or spread. The stage helps your care team plan treatment. Urethral cancer uses a staging system called TNM.

The TNM system looks at the tumor, nearby lymph nodes and whether cancer has spread to distant parts of the body.

• Ta or Tis. The tumor is limited to the inner lining of the urethra.
• T1. The tumor has grown into tissue beneath the lining of the urethra.
• T2. The tumor has grown into tissues next to the urethra, such as the prostate.
• T3. The tumor has grown farther into nearby structures, such as the front wall of the vagina or the bladder neck.
• T4. The tumor has grown into another nearby organ.
• N0. There is no evidence of cancer in lymph nodes.
• N1. Cancer is found in one nearby lymph node.
• N2. Cancer is found in more than one nearby lymph node.
• M0. There is no evidence of cancer in distant parts of the body.
• M1. Cancer has spread to a distant part of the body.

Results from imaging tests, including CT and MRI, help your care team determine the cancer stage.