The Pink Ribbon: Breast Cancer Awareness Month Part 2 (Stages of Breast Cancer)
What are the stages of breast cancer?
The following are the different stages of breast cancer:
Stage 0 (Carcinoma in Situ)
Carcinoma in Situ or CIS is a group of abnormal cells. It refers to an uncontrolled growth of cells that remains in the original location and is usually removed surgically if It develops into metastatic malignancy.
Stage l
In this stage, cancer has already formed. This stage is subdivided into stage IA and IIB.
Stage IA – The tumor is 2 centimeters or smaller and the cancer has not spread outside the breast.
Stage IB – Small clusters of breast cancer cells bigger than 0.2 millimeter but not bigger than 2 millimeters. They are found in lymph nodes and either no tumor is found in the breast or the tumor is 2 centimeters or smaller.
Stage ll
This stage is also subdivided into:
Stage IIA – No tumor is found in the breast or the tumor is 2 centimeters or smaller. Cancer is also found in axillary lymph nodes or in the lymph nodes near the breastbone. Or, the tumor is larger than 2 centimeters but not larger than 5 centimeters. Cancer has not spread to the lymph nodes.
Stage IIB – The tumor is (a) larger than 2 centimeters but not larger than 5 centimeters. Small clusters of breast cancer cells are found in the lymph nodes; (b) tumor is larger than 2 centimeters but not larger than 5 centimeters. Cancer has spread in 1 to 3 axillary lymph nodes or to the lymph nodes near the breastbone; (c) tumor is larger than 5 centimeters. Cancer has not spread to the lymph nodes.
Stage III
Stage IIIA – No tumor is foound in the breast or the tumor may be any size. Cancer is found in 4 to 9 axillary lymph nodes or in lymph nodes near the breastbone; or the tumor is larger than 5 centimeters. Small clusters of breast cancer cells are found in lymph nodes; or the tumor is larger than 5 centimeters. Cancer has spread in 1 to 3 axillary lymph nodes or to the lymph nodes that is near the breastbone.
Stage IIIB – The tumor may be any size and cancer has spread to the chest wall and/or to the skin of the breast and has caused swelling or an ulcer. Cancer may have also spread to up to 9 axillary lymph nodes or the lymph nodes near the breastbone.
Stage IIIC – No tumor is found in the breast or the tumor may be any size. Cancer may have spread to the skin of the breast and caused swelling or an ulcer and/or has spread to the chest wall. Cancer may have also spread to 10 or more axillary lymph nodes, lymph nodes above or below the collarbone, or axillary lymph nodes and lymph nodes near the breastbone. This is also called the critical stage, which can be operable or inoperable stage of cancer.
Stage IV
This stage is the most critical stage, where the cancer has spread to other organs of the body, like the bones, lungs, liver, or brain.
Related article:
The Pink Ribbon: Breast Cancer Awareness Month (Part 1)
Published at: 10/03/2014
