Understanding Breast Cancer Stage

By Antin. Breast cancer stage is depend on size of tumor, the present of affected lymph nodes, the spreading of the cancer, and whether the cancer is invasive or non-invasive. Once the breast cancer has been known the doctor can provide the patient with the best treatment guide, identify the prognosis or the most likely outcome of the cancer.

Breast Cancer Stage 0 means non invasive cancer or there is no sign of non-cancerous abnormal cells or cancerous cells getting out of the part of the breast where they started. In this stage, the breast cancer is non-invasive. Breast Cancer Stage 1 is said to be invasive. The cancer cells have already invaded neighboring normal tissues, the tumor size is up to 2 centimeters, but no affected lymph nodes.

Breast Cancer Stage 2 is divided into two categories: Stage 2A and Stage 2B. In stage 2A the tumor size ? 2 cm with affected lymph nodes or tumor size 2-5 cm without affected lymph nodes. In stage 2B the tumor size 2-5 cm with affected lymph nodes or tumor size ? 5 cm without lymph nodes. Breast Cancer Stage 3 is invasive breast cancer that is divided into 3 categories. In Stage 3A, there is no tumor in the breast but it is found in the axillary lymph nodes or the lymph nodes near the breast bone. The tumor has the size of less than 5 centimeters or more and they are clustered together or they may stick to other structures.

In Stage 3B, the tumor may be of any size and found in the lymph nodes under the arm or near the breastbone, chest wall and/or skin of the breast, clustered together or sticking to other structures. In Stage 3C, there can still be no sign of cancer in the breast. The tumor may be of any size and found to be spread to the chest wall, lymph nodes above or below the collarbone, lymph nodes under the arm or breastbone.

Breast Cancer Stage 4 is invasive breast cancer that has already spread to other organs of the body; usually the brain, lungs, liver or bone.


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