The term "stage 5" is not used with most types of cancer. Most advanced cancers are grouped into stage 4, which is the highest stage of cancer. The stage of cancer describes the size of a tumor and how far it has spread from where it originated. The grade describes the appearance of the cancerous cells. Most types of cancer have four stages, numbered from 1 to 4, with the lowest stage describing early and small tumors and the higher stages categorizing cancers that have progressed and spread. Some cancers also have a stage 0, which describes cancer in situ, meaning that the cancer is still located in the place it started and has not spread to nearby tissues. Therefore, there is no such thing as stage 5 cancer.