What is the difference between the grade and the stage of a cancer?

According to the U.S. National Cancer Institute (NCI), grade and stage describe different things about a cancer. Grade reflects how the cancer looks under a microscope: NCI states that tumor grade describes how normal or abnormal cancer cells look under a microscope, a judgment a pathologist makes by studying biopsy samples. This matters because, per NCI, the more abnormal the cells look, the more aggressive the cancer and the faster it is likely to grow and spread. Stage, by contrast, describes the cancer's size and reach. NCI says stage refers to the extent of your cancer, such as how large the tumor is and if it has spread, including whether it has reached nearby lymph nodes or distant parts of the body. In short: grade concerns how cells look and likely behave; stage concerns how far the cancer has progressed. This is general information, not personal medical advice.

Last updated: 2026-07-12

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