

(QOPI®) Certification Program, an affiliate of the American Society of Clinical Oncology - Learn More
PVCS was the first practice to be certified by QOPI in Arizona
Fighting cancer is one of the most difficult challenges anyone can face in life, and if you or a loved one have recently been diagnosed, we know how scary of an experience this must be – but we’re here to help. As a leading cancer treatment provider in the Phoenix, AZ area, we at Palo Verde Cancer Specialists have the knowledge and experience to tackle any form of cancer, and our treatment team is committed to the health and long-term success of our patients. We proudly treat a wide variety of cancerous conditions, including all forms of abdominal cancer.
Unlike many other conditions, abdominal cancer doesn’t actually refer to one, specific cancerous condition – instead, it’s a blanket term that applies to any cancer originating in the organs or tissues of the abdominal cavity. Accordingly, abdominal cancer may refer to any one of the following specific conditions:
Again, because abdominal cancer may actually refer to several specific cancerous conditions, the stages and prognosis for any individual cancer case will depend on the specific condition and factors in the case. That said, most abdominal cancers use the same method for staging. The stage describes the severity of the cancer – the higher the stage, the more severe the cancer.
Most cancers, including most abdominal cancers, are staged using a TNM method: T describing the size of the tumor, N describing whether or not the tumor has spread to the lymph nodes, and M describing whether or not the cancer has metastasized (spread) to other locations in the body. Generally, the larger the tumor, the more lymph nodes affected, and the more metastatic the cancer, the higher the stage. The stage of cancer will have an effect on both the prognosis of the patient and the treatment options available.