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How do doctors determine what stage of cancer you have? - Hyunsoo Joshua No and Trudy Wu

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571 Questions Answered

TEDEd Animation

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Each year, approximately 20 million people receive a cancer diagnosis. At that time, a patient usually learns their cancer’s stage, which is typically a number ranging from one to four. While staging is designed, in part, to help patients better understand what they’re facing, the number can be confusing. So, what do cancer stages actually mean? Hyunsoo Joshua No and Trudy Wu explain.

Additional Resources for you to Explore

Want to learn more about cancer? Visit cancer.org to better understand cancer, risks and prevention, staging, and cancer care. Learn more about different types of cancer treatments, including chemotherapy and radiation therapy, by visiting these TED-Ed lessons. Some cancers can be very difficult to treat, which is further explored in this TED-Ed lesson. If you want to seek more in-depth knowledge, the National Comprehensive Cancer Network provides evidence-based guidelines on the diagnosis, staging, and management of all cancer types. Lastly, listen to this podcast to learn more about the diagnostic workup and management of different cancer types.

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About TED-Ed Animations

TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »

Meet The Creators

  • Educator Hyunsoo Joshua No, Trudy Wu
  • Director Jess Mountfield
  • Narrator Addison Anderson
  • Music Cem Misirlioglu
  • Sound Designer Cem Misirlioglu
  • Director of Production Gerta Xhelo
  • Produced by Sazia Afrin
  • Editorial Director Alex Rosenthal
  • Editorial Producer Shannon Odell
  • Script Editor Max G. Levy
  • Fact-Checker Charles Wallace

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