Women's Health: Breast Cancer Stages and Treatment Side Effects

The stages of breast cancer are based on tumor size and if the cancer has spread. The following are the stages of breast cancer.

Stages of Breast Cancer

Stage O or Noninvasive Carcinoma

The two types of Stage O breast cancer are lobular carcinoma in situ and ductal carcinoma in situ. Lobular carcinoma is abnormal cells in the lobule. Ductal carcinomas are abnormal cells in the lining of the duct.

Stage I

Stage I breast cancer means the cancerous tumor isn't any larger than two inches and hasn't spread to any other areas of the body.

Stage II A and B

Stage II A is either of the following:

• The tumor is not larger than one inch across and the cancer has spread to the axillary lymph nodes.
• The tumor is one to two inches and has not spread to the lymph nodes.

Stage II B means either of the following:

• The tumor is larger than two inches and hasn't spread.
• The tumor is approximately one to two inches and has spread.

Those with early stages of breast cancer may have breast surgery to remove the cancer followed by radiation therapy. The surgery will depend on certain factors when it comes to the removal of the breasts and cancerous areas.

Stage III A and B

Stage III breast cancer is also known as locally advanced cancer.

Stage III A refers to the following:

• The cancerous area is smaller than two inches and has spread to the lymph nodes. The lymph nodes are attached to each other or to other structures in the body.
• The cancerous area is larger than two inches and has spread to the lymph nodes. The lymph nodes could be attached to other areas.

Stage III B refers to the following:

• The cancer has spread to the skin or chest wall which can include the ribs and muscles in the chest.
• The cancer has spread to the lymph nodes inside the chest wall along the breastbone.

Inflammatory carcinoma. Inflammatory carcinoma is named this because of its typical clinical presentation. In cases of the inflammatory carcinoma because of the infection, the outcome for prognosis is very poor.

Stage IV

Stage IV is a metastatic breast cancer and refers to the following: