If you are diagnosed with breast cancer, it is important to know how far the cancer has spread. The physician stages the tumor based on its size, the character of its cells, and the extent of metastasis. Knowing the stages help them to decide the best treatment options.

The staging of breast cancer is divided into five. Stages 0,1 & 2 refers the term 'early breast cancer' while the stages III & IV denotes the 'Advanced breast cancer'.

Stage 0

At stage 0 cancer cells are present in either the lining of a breast lobule or duct. But they have not spread to the surrounding fatty tissue. Two types of Stage 0 cancer are lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS) and Ductal Carcinoma in situ (DCIS). LCIS does not behave as a cancer but indicates high risk for breast cancer. This risk of cancer is increased for both breasts. Some women with LCIS may take a drug called tamoxifen, which can reduce the risk of developing breast cancer.

In DCIS the cancer cells are confined to milk ducts in the breast and have not spread into the fatty breast tissue or to any other part of the body. women with DCIS are at an increased risk of getting invasive breast cancer. Some women with DCIS have breast-sparing surgery followed by radiation therapy. Or they may choose to have a mastectomy

Stage I

The primary cancer is 2cm or less in diameter and has not spread to the lymph nodes.

Stage II

Stage II is further divided in to two

Stage IIA : The cancer is no larger than 2 centimeters but has spread to the lymph nodes under the arm (the axillary lymph nodes). OR
The cancer is between 2 and 5 centimeters but has not spread to the lymph nodes under the arm.

Stage IIB : The cancer is between 2 and 5 centimeters, and has spread to the lymph nodes under the arm. OR
The cancer is larger than 5 centimeters, but has not spread to the lymph nodes under the arm.

Women with early stage breast cancer may have breast-sparing surgery followed by radiation therapy to the breast, or they may have a mastectomy. Many women with stage I and most with stage II breast cancer have chemotherapy and hormonal therapy after primary treatment with surgery or surgery and radiation therapy.

Stage III & IV is known as 'Advanced Breast cancer'

Stage IIIA : The cancer is smaller than 2 inches (5 centimeters) and has spread to the axillary lymph nodes (the lymph nodes under the arm), and the lymph nodes are attached to each other or to other structures. OR
The cancer may be larger than 2 inches (5 centimeters) and has spread to the axillary lymph nodes and the lymph nodes may be attached to each other or to other structures.

Stage IIIB : It has spread to tissues near the breast (the skin or chest wall, including the ribs and muscles in the chest) OR
spread to lymph nodes inside the chest wall along the breastbone.

Patients with stage III breast cancer usually have both treatment to remove or destroy the cancer in the breast and to stop the disease from spreading. Surgery and/or radiation therapy, chemotherapy, hormonal therapy are the standard treatments.

Stage IV

This stage is known as metastatic. Cancer has spread from the breast and lymph nodes under the arm to other parts of the body, such as bone, liver, lung, or brain.

The treatment of Stage IV breast cancer focuses on extending survival time and relieving symptoms.

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