Stages of breast cancer make the patient understand the severity of the disease, also whether or not it has spread to the adjoining parts of the body. These phases also help the doctors in figuring out the treatment that should be given to the patient and whether it is curable or not. These stages are determined after the patient has been diagnosed.
The stages of breast cancer are established based of the following factors:
- Location and size of breast cancer
- The severity of cancer (i.e. if it has spread to different tissues)
- Whether the tumor is invasive or not
The survival rate of cancer also depends upon it stage. If the patient is on first stage then the chances of survival are far more than that of the forth stage.
Below are the different stages and their effects on patient’s health:
Stage 0
This stage is the most stable stage of the disease. If a person is detected with breast cancer at stage 0 then there are 90% chances of the patient surviving. Cancer cells at stage are at their original position and have not started spreading at all. DCIS (ductal carcinoma in situ) is a type of breast cancer that is at stage 0. This type is non-invasive and irregular cells are found in the lining of the breast duct. The disease should be treated immediately at this stage, so that it doesn’t grow any further and become sever.
Stage 1:
At this particular stage the cancer has been formed and the tumor is detected. It is described as an invasive form. Stage 1 can be divided into two stages 1A and 1B.
At stage 1A the cancer is tumor is found and measures to approximately 2cm. at this stage the cells have not start spreading to any area outside.
At stage 1B the tumor is found and very little clusters of cancer cells are found in the lymph nodes. But these cells do not measure more than 1mm.
Stage II:
Stage II again is divided into two sub stage
IA: At this stage the there are possibilities that
- On detection, tumor will be found on in the breast but has not started spreading on the areas outside.
- The tumor is smaller in size i.e. around 2cm, but small clutters of cancer cells have spread on the lymph nodes.
- The tumor size is between 2cm to 5 cm, but has not start spreading yet.
Stage IIB: This again is invasive breast cancer, which includes:
- The tumor size has increased from 2cm but is less than 5cm. at this phase the tumor has also started spreading on the lymph nodes.
- The tumor size has increased to more than 5cm but it has not yet spread to the lymph nodes.
Stage III:
This stage 3 again is sub divided in to three parts:
Stage IIIA: The possibilities include:
- The cancer is not found in the breast, but is found on the lymph nodes which are bunched together.
- The cancer is found I the breast and also in the lymph nodes which are in cluster.
Stage IIIB: This stage is considered as inflammatory breast cancer and the possibilities are that:
- The cancer is found in the breast and can be of any size. It has also spread to the chest wall and the adjacent tissues. Also it may have spread to the auxiliary lymph nodes.
Stage IIIC: At this stage the chances are that:
- Either there may be no sign of tumor in the breast or the tumor may be found in the breast and also on the breast wall and tissues.
- The cancer cells must have spread to the auxillary lymph nodes that are present over or underneath the collarbone and also near the breastbone.
Stage IV: This is the most severe stage and chances of survival at this phase is quite rear.
- The cancer cells must have spread to various other organs of the body mostly lungs, liver and brain.
