Stages of cancer based on state of the lymph nodes br br The second indicator of this classification is the state of the lymph nodes, denoted by the Latin letter N (lymph node). br Four states of this indicator are known: the first (N0) lymph nodes are not affected, N1 - an increase in the number of affected lymph nodes or lesions of lymph nodes over long distances, N2 - an increase in the number of affected lymph nodes more compared to N1 and damage to the lymph nodes, and more more distance compared to N1, N3 - the increase in the number of affected lymph nodes is greater compared to N2 and the lymph nodes are affected and at an even greater distance compared to N2.