The purpose of this study was to refine the Western Consortium for Cancer Nursing Research (WCCNR) stomatitis staging system. Fifty-six adult cancer patients were accrued. Using all eight descriptors, 96.4% of the participants were correctly staged. Using only lesions, colour and bleeding, however, 92.9% of the cases were correctly staged. Based on the findings of this study, the WCCNR stomatitis staging system has been shortened to include only lesions, colour and bleeding.