stage

In a medical context, "stage" refers to the extent or severity of a disease, often cancer, at the time of diagnosis. It helps healthcare providers understand how much the disease has spread and guides treatment decisions. Staging involves assessing tumor size, whether it has spread to nearby tissues or lymph nodes, and if it has metastasized to other parts of the body. Accurate staging provides a common language for doctors to plan appropriate therapies, predict outcomes, and monitor progress.