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Breast Cancer Stages
When breast cancer has been diagnosed, physicians must determine the type of cancer and whether it has spread to other areas of the body. This process is called “staging,” and it is crucial when planning treatment.
The main stages of breast cancer are: 1) Stage 0 (ie, carcinoma in situ); 2) Stage II [A&B]; 3) Stage III [A,B,&C}; and 4) Stage IV.
Stage 0 carcinoma in situ can be of two types. The breast consists of lobes and ducts. Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), the most common type, refers to a condition wherein abnormal cells are seen in the lining of a breast duct. Lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS), which is found more often in both breasts than other types, refers to a condition wherein abnormal cells can be observed in the breast lobules.
Stage IIA consists of 3 subgroups. In the first, cancer is seen in the axillary lymph nodes (located under the arm) but no tumor is found in the breast. In the second, the tumor is less than or equal to 2 centimeters and has spread to the axillary lymph nodes. In the third, the tumor is larger than 2 centimeters, but no more than 5 and has not moved into the axillary nodes.
Stage IIB consists of tumors that are either larger than 5 centimeters but haven’t spread, or those that are larger than 2 centimeters (but not larger than 5) and have spread to the axillary lymph nodes.
Stage IIIA consists of 4 subgroups. In the first, cancer is seen in the axillary lymph nodes that are either attached to each other or other structures. Cancer may be found in lymph nodes close to the breastbone. In the second, the tumor is 2 centimeters or smaller and cancer is observed in the axillary lymph nodes that are attached to each other or other structures, or the cancer may be in the lymph nodes adjacent to the breastbone. In the third, the tumor is larger than 2 centimeters but no larger than 5. The cancer has spread to axillary lymph nodes that are attached to each other or to other structures, or cancer may be seen in the lymph nodes near the breast bone. In the fourth, the tumor is larger than 5 centimeters and cancer has moved into the axillary lymph nodes that may possibly be attached to each other or other structures, or the cancer may be in the lymph nodes adjacent to the breastbone.
Stage IIIB refers to any size tumor. In this stage, the cancer is in the chest wall and/or the skin of the breast. It may also have also have spread to the axillary lymph nodes that might be attached to other structures or each other. In addition the cancer may have spread to the lymph nodes adjacent to the breastbone.
In Stage IIIC the tumor can be any size and may have spread to the chest wall or to the skin of the breast. In this stage, there may actually be no sign of cancer in the breast. However, this stage also refers to cancers that have spread to lymph nodes above or below the collarbone, as well as to the axillary lymph nodes or those adjacent to the breastbone. Breast cancer at this stage is referred to as either operable or inoperable. Operable means that the cancer is seen in 10 or more axillary lymph nodes, or is found in axillary lymph nodes and those adjacent to the breastbone, or is in lymph nodes below the collarbone. Inoperable refers to cancer that has spread to lymph nodes above the collarbone.
Stage IV means that the cancer has spread to other organs in the body such as the brain, lungs, liver or bones.