Sandbox:MGS

Staging

The breast cancer stage is based on the results of testing that is done on the tumor and lymph nodes removed during surgery and other tests.

There are 3 types of breast carcinoma in situ:

Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is a noninvasive condition in which abnormal cells are found in the lining of a breast duct. The abnormal cells have not spread outside the duct to other tissues in the breast. In some cases, DCIS may become invasive cancer and spread to other tissues. At this time, there is no way to know which lesions could become invasive.
Lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS) is a condition in which abnormal cells are found in the lobules of the breast. This condition seldom becomes invasive cancer.
Paget disease of the nipple is a condition in which abnormal cells are found in the nipple only.

In stage I, cancer has formed. Stage I is divided into stages IA and IB.

In stage IA, the tumor is 2 centimeters or smaller. Cancer has not spread outside the breast.
In stage IB, small clusters of breast cancer cells (larger than 0.2 millimeter but not larger than 2 millimeters) are found in the lymph nodes and either:

Stage II is divided into stages IIA and IIB.

no tumor is found in the breast or the tumor is 2 centimeters or smaller. Cancer (larger than 2 millimeters) is found in 1 to 3 axillary lymph nodes or in the lymph nodes near the breastbone (found during a sentinel lymph node biopsy); or
the tumor is larger than 2 centimeters but not larger than 5 centimeters. Cancer has not spread to the lymph nodes.

larger than 2 centimeters but not larger than 5 centimeters. Small clusters of breast cancer cells (larger than 0.2 millimeter but not larger than 2 millimeters) are found in the lymph nodes; or
larger than 2 centimeters but not larger than 5 centimeters. Cancer has spread to 1 to 3 axillary lymph nodes or to the lymph nodes near the breastbone (found during a sentinel lymph node biopsy); or
larger than 5 centimeters. Cancer has not spread to the lymph nodes.

Stage III is divided into IIIA, IIIB, and IIIC.

no tumor is found in the breast or the tumor may be any size. Cancer is found in 4 to 9 axillary lymph nodes or in the lymph nodes near the breastbone (found during imaging tests or a physical exam); or
the tumor is larger than 5 centimeters. Small clusters of breast cancer cells (larger than 0.2 millimeter but not larger than 2 millimeters) are found in the lymph nodes; or
the tumor is larger than 5 centimeters. Cancer has spread to 1 to 3 axillary lymph nodes or to the lymph nodes near the breastbone (found during a sentinel lymph node biopsy).

the tumor may be any size and cancer has spread to the chest wall and/or to the skin of the breast and caused swelling or an ulcer.
cancer may have spread to:

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 has spread to:

For treatment, stage IIIC breast cancer is divided into operable and inoperable stage IIIC.

In stage IV, cancer has spread to other organs of the body, most often the bones, lungs, liver, or brain.

In inflammatory breast cancer, cancer has spread to the skin of the breast and the breast looks red and swollen and feels warm. The redness and warmth occur because the cancer cells block the lymph vessels in the skin. The skin of the breast may also show the dimpled appearance called peau d’orange (like the skin of an orange). There may not be any lumps in the breast that can be felt.
Inflammatory breast cancer may be stage IIIB, stage IIIC, or stage IV.