An international perspective on Canada's role in cancer staging

Canadians have been involved in the issues of cancer staging since the inception of the international effort led by the UICC. The seminal roles of Sellers and Bush in furthering the development of the concept of staging and how it relates to a patient's prognosis have served as an example to others in Canada and elsewhere. Canadians have shown a pattern of multidisciplinary representation on staging bodies with epidemiologists, radiation oncologists and surgeons involved in cancer staging over the years. The scope of involvement has ranged from the NCIC Canadian Committee on Cancer Staging to the UICC, FIGO and the AJCC with its expert task forces. The recent consultation initiative to coordinate comprehensive nationwide staging by TNM is considered by the UICC as a potential model for other countries to follow.